Councilmember Rishi Kumar Q3 2016 newsletter

Q 3 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,
Safety has been a challenge in Saratoga. We have had 131 break-ins so far this year,
with $2M+ stolen from Saratoga homes. The crime wave has subsided since late
August, but it behooves each of us to be vigilant and to take some action around our
home and neighborhood. Case in point, on Thursday Nov 3rd, two homes were
broken into off Cox avenue as the homes did not have any lights turned on that were
front facing and became a target. Checkout the safety tips at
http://www.RishiKumar.com/tips. You can the list of break-ins this year
www.tinyurl.com/SaratogaCrimeSpreadsheet
As part of my safety charter for Saratoga, I have been having neighborhood meetings to create some safety best practices,
build awareness of the crime situation and launch Neighborhood Safety Watch programs. With 30+ neighborhood
meetings so far, an effort that began in June, we have initiated 30+ new Saratoga Neighborhood Safety Watch programs.
On October 19th, we had 29 neighborhoods certified with their Neighborhood Safety Watch program by the Sheriff and
went live the same day. Scroll down below and you will find glimpses from these 30+ neighborhood meetings.
When was the last time we had 29 Neighborhood Safety Watch programs ready to go live the same day in the history of
Saratoga? I think the answer is NEVER! There were 32 neighborhoods present with completed packages - and 29 were
there as a result of our efforts and push over the last few months. You can read about it the Saratoga News article
here http://tinyurl.com/MercNSW
HERE IS THE LIST OF NEIGHBORHOODS THAT GOT CERTIFIED: Braemar, Brandywine/Paramount,
Chardonnay, El Quito, Fredericksburg, Glenbrae, Horseshoe, Miljevich, Park Saratoga HOA, Prides Crossing, Prides
Crossing East, Prides Crossing North, Saraglen, Saratoga Avenue, Saratoga Woods, Brooks of Saratoga Thelma West,
Tollgate, Vessing, Via Roncole, Saratoga High / Chalet, Saratoga Elementary / Vickery, Blauer Drive, Larchmont,
Lower Pierce, McFarland and Wardell. There are many neighborhoods on track to get certified and we have scheduled
another meeting in December with the sheriff. To see the complete list visit www.RishiKumar.com/nsw
A Neighborhood Safety Watch grant initiative was on the agenda at the same October city council meeting. I put forth a
motion for a grant initiative for Saratoga Neighborhood Safety Watch programs that was passed 5-0 by the council. We
will now fund such neighborhood safety watch initiatives. Only Neighborhood Safety Captains (or Coordinators) can
apply for the grant on behalf of the neighborhood, and only those neighborhoods that are already certified can get access
to this grant. The grant is a total of $300/neighborhood. This goes live on January 1st
. Additionally, Public Works staff
has started reaching out to the 30 neighborhoods to discuss Neighborhood Watch signage. The information collected at
the meeting will also be used to create a map of Neighborhood Watch groups, which will be available on the City website
I highly recommend that you join the Safe Saratoga Citizen’s forum at:
http://groups.google.com/group/SafeSaratoga
http://facebook.com/groups/safesaratoga
Stay tuned – we can do a lot more to help enhance Saratoga’s safety. For one, we are rolling out a neighborhood led
surveillance camera methodology. You will see an announcement soon on this topic.
Sincerely, Rishi Kumar
NEWSLETTER EDITOR: YOUTH INTERN SHAUNAK VAIDYA

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C i t y C O U N C I L u p d a t e
COUNCILMEMBER RISHI KUMAR NEWSLETTER Q3 2016 Page 2 of 18
Visit Councilmember Kumar’s information page on water at:
www.RishiKumar.com/water
Back on August 17th at the City Council meeting, Councilmember Kumar
had asked our city council to put Water on the agenda for discussion - based
on the Saratoga angst with high water bills. It was placed on the council
agenda of October 19th
. Our city attorney had been researching this complex
topic for weeks and finally reported back at this October 19th
meeting, and we
collectively as a council took specific steps to move forward.
You can watch the meeting here
http://saratoga.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=9&clip_id=965
Click on item 4.1 Below is a summary:
Our Saratoga city attorney presented a deck as a backdrop to the city council
discussion. http://www.slideshare.net/rishi59/saratoga-city-attorney-
presentation-on-sjwc-rates-10191026
Our council came up with the following approach after much discussion,
deliberation:
#1 Build/Leverage a joint Regional effort. We will seek to collaborate with
neighboring cities where SJWC provides water. Reach out from many fronts
to see if we have common cause, where do we have common ground and
where we don't. For the long term, we need a regional approach beyond
Water also with Gas, Electricity etc to ensure the interest of our community
is being met when decisions are made by CPUC. I will bring this up with
commission members on the Santa Clara Valley Water District (from various
santa clara county cities) who are served by San Jose Water Company.
#2Reach out representatives in Sacramento (Assemblymember Low and
Senator Beall) - we will discuss water at an upcoming council meeting with
them.
#3 Reach out to SCVWD via staff, via SCVWD Board member Nai Hsueh (a
Saratoga resident).
#4 City Manager TO DO to evaluate Rate Analyst Consulting services who
can help us with CPUC, do deeper analysis
#5 City Manager TO DO to explore Short term analyst + rate modification
request
#6 SJWC to explain every single line item on the bill. Likely a FAQ
Items 1, 2, 3 were brought up by me at the August 14th meeting as
alternative approaches to the problem.
Item #4 was specifically recommended by me yesterday, as a rate analyst
would take some of the complexity away for us and our citizens.
We haven’t solved anything yet, but we are finally moving forward.
Join the Saratoga Water email group
http://groups.google.com/group/saratogawater to stay connected
WATER DISCUSSION AT SARATOGA CITY
COUNCIL – OCT 19th
At the October 26th
Santa Clara
Valley Water District Commission
meeting, Councilmember Rishi
Kumar brought the topic of
surcharge, high water bill, the water
petition, the rates impacting
Saratoga and provided the Saratoga
City council update to the
Commission from the Wednesday
meeting, Saratoga’s exploration of
hiring a rate analyst consultant etc,.
Subsequent to that, Councilmember
Kumar also met with SCVWD
Board Member Nai Hsueh. The
request was made to Nai to bring
this topic up discussion at the next
board meeting on November 9th
and Saratoga’s desire to completely
eliminate the drought mandate. A
step forward to actively collaborate
with our neighboring cities to make
it a collective voice and also to
actively express our situation with
SCVWD
Water district
update
SARATOGA
MARIJUANA
ORDINANCE
At the November 2nd City Council
meeting, the council passed an
Urgency Interim Ordinance (valid
for 45 days) that makes it illegal for
outdoor cultivation of Marijuana in
Saratoga. It is law now. This will
be revisited at our December
meeting. This ordinance was
introduced for discussion at the
request of our city attorney to
address any issues with Proposition
64 – which up for vote in the
November election

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STRICTER SMOKING
ORDINANCE
C i t y N E W S A N D u p d a t e
At the September council meeting, the
council approved a Contract for Website
Design, Hosting, and Maintenance to
CivicPlus in an amount not to exceed
$83,547 for a term of 4 years. You
should eventually see a contemporary,
user friendly city website
CITY WEBSITE
REDESIGN
The city of Saratoga held a public meeting
between the traffic safety commission
(TSC) and the city council on Sept. 7. The
topic was safety. Our council had asked
the task force (TSC) to work on ideas to
help with public safety. You can find the
presentation from this meeting at
http://www.slideshare.net/rishi59/2016
-09-07-tsc-safety-presentation-to-city-
council. Key recommendations include
:Outreach, Neighborhood Safety Watch
and building awareness
The Santa Clara Valley Transportation
Authority will implement a three-phase
noise reduction program along the
corridor to address existing noise
concerns on Highway 85. Some of the
agency's strategies may include sound
wall modification, retrofitting and/or
treatment, landscaping along the
highway and pavement modifications or
treatments. Visit
bit.ly/SR85NoiseReduction.
TRAFFIC AND
SAFETY WORK TASK
ON SAFETY
LOCKED MAIL BOX
ORDINANCE
Whenever a new home/construction
project happens, they will be mandated
to have a locked mail box based on a
new ordinance that has been proposed
The council voted on July 6 in favor of
an amended smoking ordinance:
prohibits smoking in all dining areas,
including enclosed and open spaces; in
the common areas of all hotels and
multifamily developments, such as
hallways, courtyards, pool areas and
playgrounds; in most workplaces,
including outdoors; and in new multi-
family apartment complexes. The
ordinance also prohibits smoking at
any event that requires a special event
permit, excluding adult-only events,
in service areas, such as ATM lines,
bus stops and ticket kiosks, and within
20 feet from any entrance to an area
where smoking is prohibited, such as
restaurants and workplaces.
HIGHWAY 85 NOISE
VILLAGE POLICY
UPDATE
On May 24th the City Council
considered the results of a community
outreach initiative intended to gather the
viewpoints of the community about the
Village. The community outreach was the
first step in the process of updating the
Village Specific Plan and Design
Guidelines. In considering the Planning
Commission recommendation, the
Council determined that the Village Plan
had been substantially completed and had
served its useful life, and that future
policy guiding land use, development and
building modification in the Village
should be incorporated into the General
Plan, Village Design Guidelines, and the
Zoning Ordinance. Council approved the
to preparation of a work plan outlining a
process for developing and adopting
policies in response to the community
outreach that would update and bring
current the community’s views and
vision for the Village. There were four
topic areas identified during outreach to
be addressed via this policy update.
· Parking and Circulation
· Village Vision
· Village Design and Character
· Opportunity Sites
SHOOTING
INCIDENT AT A
HOME ON TITUS
AVENUE
Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office
deputies were dispatched to a home on
Titus Avenue in Saratoga to perform a
welfare check. During the welfare
check, deputies attempted to make
contact with the individual for
approximately 50 minutes, but
received no response. Deputies then
walked to the side of the residence and
encountered a male with a raised
firearm. Deputies made repeated
requests for the man to lower his
weapon. Subsequently, one of the
officers onsite fired at the man,
reported to be a Saratoga resident,
who was then transported to a local
hospital, where he died. While there
are limited details available and the
matter is under investigation, this
looks like an isolated incident. Details
http://www.mercurynews.com/2016/09/15/s
aratoga-authorities-identify-deputy-and-
man-he-fatally-shot-in-home-encounter/
AMERICA IN BLOOM
sSaratoga was big winners again - won
the Urban Forestry award.
Congratulations to Jill Hunter and team
for bringing the award to Saratoga

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A large number of Monterey pines growing
along the Allendale Avenue side of the West
Valley College campus have died. Five years
of a drought has taken a toll on a large
number of trees throughout the city and the
pines have suffered the most. The college
got a permit to remove 43 dead pines. This
area will be replanted with drought tolerant
landscaping and new trees once the dead
Q & A W I T H C O U N C I L M E M B E R K U M A R
IS SARATOGA
THINKING MICROGRID?
I HEAR OF OTHER
CITIES ROLLING OUT
MICROGRIDS FOR
EMERGENCY SHELTERS,
FIRE STATIONS etC.
At a prior city council meeting, I have
proposed a Microgrid concept for Saratoga
for our emergency shelter. Our Community
Center serves as an emergency refuge in the
event of a disaster, like a major storm or
earthquake and a micro grid can be
configured to supply clean power to the
Community Center in the scenario of an
outage. A Microgrid solution is currently
being deployed at 3 Fire Stations in Fremont
for critical facilities such as Community
Centers, Fire and Police stations, and
Medical facilities. The essence of their
solution is intelligent software that
integrates and manages the power from:
Solar PV arrays, Battery Storage Systems,
and the Grid itself. Yes, such innovative
approaches for Saratoga would also help
reduce our monthly expense
HOW DO I REGISTER
MY SURVEILLANCE
CAMERA?
Below, you will find a few petitions. The
first one is related to Orchestra at
Saratoga Union School District, the
second one relates to the super high
water bill and the third one relates to
surveillance cameras for Saratoga
http://tinyurl.com/SHSPetition
http://tinyurl.com/saratogawaterpetition
http://www.tinyurl.com/CameraPetition
I HEARD A FEW
PETITIONS THAT
SARATOGANS ARE
SIGNING?
I SEE DEAD
MONTEREY PINES ON
FRUITVALE.
WHAT IS CERT? This training
provides training to help with any
emergency like earthquake, fire
escape plan, missing person, lost
child, bio/chemical attack,
emergency evacuations,
neighborhood safety and so much
more. CERT is a great way to be
organized as well as trained by
professionals. You become a huge
asset to your neighborhood once
trained. A special Saratoga CERT
Leadership meeting will be held on
Wednesday November 16 at
Saratoga City Hall from 7:00 to
9:00 p.m. Saratoga CERT
Leadership meetings are open to
everybody in Saratoga CERT.
Questions? Contact Jim
Jim Yoke,Community Education
Services, Santa Clara County Fire
Department jim.yoke@sccfd.org
408-887-7818 cell KI6HKZ
HOW DO I GET
CERT FOR MY
NEIGHBORHOOD?
The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office
has partnered with CrimeReports.com.
for reported crimes in your area.
CrimeReports.com hosts a Camera
Registration Program. By registering the
location of your home security cameras,
you might assist the Sheriff’s Office in
supplying information needed to catch
criminals that have burglarized your
neighbors. Having camera footage of
suspects is one of the most valuable tools
law enforcement can use to identify
criminal suspects. Your information is
kept secure and never made public. To
register your security camera, go to
www.CrimeReports.com and click on
the “register my camera” link. Then select
the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office as
your local law enforcement agency.
WHAT IS THE
STATUS OF THE
PROSPECT
MEDIAN PROJECT?
The Prospect Median project has
been delayed, but work will get
going soon. Stay tuned for further
updates The project will improve
Prospect Road between Saratoga-
Sunnyvale Road and Lawrence
Expressway via funding from
OBAG. Two open houses were
conducted to get community
feedback and neighborhoods around
I SEE OWNERS NOT
PICKING UP DOG
WASTE LEFT BEHINDHOW CAN I GET THE
RING.COM 30%
DISCOUNT?
Thousands in Saratoga have bought this
product that Saratoga law enforcement is
also referring. Details at
www.RishiKumar.com/Safety (Scroll all the
way down)
We prohibit this as part of city code in
parks. Please report it by calling
Telephone Number 408.868.1214
(hotline). Email:
enforcement@saratoga.ca.us
Webpage (including complaint form):
HOW CAN MY CHILD
INTERN WITH
COUNCILMEMBER
KUMAR
Visit www.RishiKumar.com/intern
www.tinyurl.com/Kickoff101

5
That is a violation as per Saratoga city code.
Suggestion - call the Sheriff's non-
emergency number 408 299 2311 and
report it. Typically these types of calls are
handled by San Jose animal control. Sheriff
does frequently respond since animal
control does take longer to respond.
Animal control will either give warnings or
cite the offenders.
Q & A W I T H C O U N C I L M E M B E R K U M A R
HOW DO I REPORT
OUT OF COMPLIANCE
SARATOGA RESIDENTS
Here are Code Compliance Contacts:
Telephone Number 408.868.1214
(hotline).
Email: enforcement@saratoga.ca.us
Webpage (including complaint form):
www.saratoga.ca.us/enforcement
WHAT IS THE STATUS
OF THE EAT IN
SARATOGA PROGRAM
You may recall my interest to have a culture
of “Think Saratoga First”, “Eat in Saratoga”.
As part of that we started a pilot program “
Saratoga Treats for Saratoga Students
program” providing Saratoga High students
options with Saratoga restaurant food on
campus. This was run as a pilot in
September by the Saratoga High . But
unfortunately for a variety of reasons, the
program has been terminated. As part of
this effort, what came about is that
Mountain Mikes Pizza is now an option
available for Saratoga High students.
Our City staff recently completed
the installation of two water filling
stations to increase healthy drinking
options for Saratoga residents at
locations where there is potentially
heavy foot and bicyclist traffic. The
two locations include Congress
Springs Park and Blaney Plaza.
County PICH (Partnership to
Improve Community Health) grant
funds paid for the units and the
installation of the water filling
stations. The water filling stations
have three tiers that allow residents
to drink from the fountains, refill
their water bottles and also give their
pets water from an outlet at the
bottom of the station.
ARE THERE WATER
FILLING STATIONS
FOR SARATOGANS?
SOLICITATION. TO
REPORT OR NOT?
I HAVE WITNESSED A
TRAFFIC SAFETY ISSUE
ON MY STREET? HOW
DO I GET SOMEONE
TO DO SOMETHING?
Help make Saratoga roads safer by
bringing items to the attention of the
Saratoga Traffic Safety Commission
(TSC). Next meeting is November
10th. Contact city staff Mainini Mainini
Cabute <mcabute@saratoga.ca.us> if
want to get on the TSC agenda
The Traffic Safety Commission analyzes
traffic concerns raised by community
members and makes recommendations
to the City on how to address these
matters.
Some friends and supporters with good
intentions have referred to my KEEP
SARATOGA GREAT campaign line with
concern. Rest in ease...This is my election
campaign line from 2014, before Mr Trump
decided to make a run. Did he get inspired
by my campaign line? Not for me to
speculate :-) I disavow any and all possible
connections, have NO relationship or
alliance with Mr Trump or his campaign.
COUNCILMEMBER
KUMAR HAS AN EMAIL
GROUP “KEEP
SARATOGA GREAT” IS
THAT INSPIRED BY MR.
TRUMP?
I NOTICE DOGS NOT
ON LEASH. IS THAT
ALLOWED?
We highly recommend that you
report all solicitation and suspicious
behavior to the Sheriff. Call the
Sheriff's non-emergency number 408
299 2311 and report it. For
businesses out soliciting, you should
ask for a City of Saratoga Permit
WHAT IS THE BLUE
LIGHT AT THE
SIGNAL LIGHT ON
QUITO/POLLARD?
When sheriffs are monitoring the
intersection, the blue light lets
them see (from the opposite side of
the traffic light) someone running a
red light
HOW DO I LAUNCH
MY NEIGHBORHOOD’S
SAFETY WATCH?
Councilmember Kumar has initiated 30
NSW programs in Saratoga and can help
you. Please contact his lead interns Isha
Mehrotra <isha.icecream<at>gmail.com>,
Rohan Mehrotra
<Rohan200m<at>gmail.com>, Rishi
Kumar <rkumar<at>saratoga.ca.us>
You can read the logistics, framework and
the he details of the Neighborhood Safety
Watch program at
www.RishiKumar.com/NSW
Councilmember Kumar and his intern team
will hand hold and help you every step of the
way

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U P C O M I N G E V E n t s
Master Gardeners: Selecting and
Planting Bare-Root Fruit Trees
and Roses on Tue, Nov 15, 7:00
PM at Saratoga Library 13650
Saratoga Ave, Saratoga, CA
Master Gardener Jamie Chen will
review the basics of selecting and
planting bare-root fruit trees and
roses including how to choose a
planting location, checking soil
condition, and tips on watering.
Master gardeners
seminar
Saratoga Diwali Mela 2016 is set
for NOVEMBER 12, 2016
6:30pm to 11pm Saratoga
Community Center. 19655
Allendale Avenue, Saratoga CA
95070. Gourmet dinner by Mynt
Indian restaurant and fabulous
Eastern Winds - The Bay Area's
Favorite Indian Music Band. Get
ready for a fun-filled
entertainment evening with a live
band, awesome food, and much
much more!
RISHI KUMAR’S
COMMUNITY EVENTS
LOOKING BACK - A
FUN SEPTEMBER DAY
IN SARATOGA
September 17th10AM :The 60th
Anniversary parade starts (Free
event). 1pm to 4pm: Saratoga
Historical Foundation event at
the Saratoga Museum. 3pm: Brews
and Blues in Wildwood Park
(ticketed)
September 18th Afternoon at 1pm:
MidAutumn Festival at the Saratoga
History Museum (Free event)
BOLLYWOOD
FITNESS AND YOGA
AT SARATOGA
LIBRARY
Starting January, visitors to
Saratoga library will get a chance
to join a free Fitness and Yoga
program on the 4th
Monday of the
month at 7pm. This program is
hosted by Saratoga Library and
organized by the Saratoga Hindu
Temple and Community Center
team
Saratoga Diwali
celebration 2016
Rishi runs many community
events via a non-profit.
Community offerings such as
Silicon Valley Coders club, Lego
Robotics, Debate Academy,
Bollywood fitness and yoga –
mostly everything is open to all
and free. Details at
:tinyurl.com/Interested2Attend
www.Tinyurl.com./SaratogaClass

7
PICTURES FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY WATCH MEETING
SARATOGA COMMUNITY CENTER – SAUNDERS ROOM
25+ Neighborhood groups getting certified
G L I M P S E S F R O M T H E P A S T F E W W E E K S
WITH LEAD INTERNS
ISHA AND ROHAN
MEHROTRA WHO
WORKED WITH 30
NEIGHBORHOODS

8
GLIMPSES FROM THE 30+NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS CONDUCTED BY
COUNCILMEMBER KUMAR BETWEEN JUNE THROUGH OCTOBER

9
GLIMPSES FROM THE 30+ NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS CONDUCTED BY

10

11

12
SARATOGA’S 60t h
ANNIVERSARY PARADE held on SEPTEMBER 17th
HAKONE GARDEN
CENTENNIAL
CELEBRATION

13
A FEW BOARD MEMBERS
OF THE LEAGUE OF
CALIFORNIA CITIES API
CAUCUS AT THE fall
social event
RE-ELECTED to THE
Board of Directors
for the CA League
of Cities Asian
Pacific Islander
Caucus at the CA
League of Cities
Long Beach
FREMONT EVENT –
LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA
CITIES API CAUCUS FALL
RECEPTION

14
ANNUAL CAR SHOW
BETH DAVID CONGEGRATION OPENS DOORS
Saratoga high
school “Eat in
Saratoga” meeting
With Saratoga
businesses attending
JUST BEFORE THE
PARADE GOT GOING

15
RING.COM:
THOUSANDS OF
SARATOGANS HAVE
INSTALLED IT
ELECTION SEASON
AMIDST THE SEASON
OF DROUGHT
SILICON VALLEY CODERS
CLUB GETS GOING IN
SARATOGA

16

17
TAKING A BREAK FROM KNOCKING ON
DOORS – NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH
OUTREACH

18

Councilmember Rishi Kumar Q3 2016 newsletter

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Councilmember Rishi Kumar Q3 2016 newsletter