Saratoga City Councilmember's Q1 2016 Newsletter

Q 1 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
NEWSLETTER EDITOR: YOUTH INTERN SHAUNAK VAIDYA
AN INFORMED COMMUNITY
Dear friends,
One of my charter on the Saratoga City Council is to foster a connected community; a
community that is plugged in with city happenings, community happenings, upcoming
events etc.. One of the objectives of this newsletter is to do exactly that!
VIDEO UPDATES: I have gotten into a routine of providing a quick video byte prior to
our Wednesday city council meetings – that provides a very short summary view of the
council agenda. Recently, I also rolled out specific informational videos that are currently
placed on the city of Saratoga website: Video #1 provided an update on the Cox
Construction project and Video #2 provided citizens on important information towards
winter storm preparation. Last year, I also rolled out a video on the process of launching a
neighborhood safety watch. My charter is to help our citizens stay informed and
connected.
COMMUNITY EVENTS: is something that I enjoy being part of …and sometimes
launching new initiatives, creating intermingling opportunities, providing opportunities
for learning or just having fun – via the non profits I chair. Most of these are offered for
no charge and open to all.
For a complete list of community events visit http://www.rishikumar.com/events
Here are examples of community events that were ran in 2015
- College Apps Demystified
- Saratoga Diwali
- Silicon Valley Young Coders Club
- Saratoga has Talent annual competition
- Saratoga Lego Robotics Boot camp for coaches
- Silicon Valley’s got Bollywood – monthly open mic
I would love to hear your thoughts on events you would like to see. Being on the city
council is an opportunity to make a difference for all in Saratoga- and I very much intend
doing so!
Rishi Kumar

2
Earlier this year, the City of
Saratoga received the Run Smarter
Award for Best Contract
Management at the annual
Laserfiche Conference. The City
has been able to use Laserfiche
software to route contracts
electronically for approvals,
lowering the time needed from a
month to 3-4 days. Debbie
Bretschneider managed
implementation of the City's
electronic contract routing project
and accepted the award on behalf
of the City. Below is a photo of
Debbie with Laserfiche CEO Chris
Wacker. Thank you, Debbie, for
taking the initiative to improve the
City's operational efficiencies!
Community
Outreach Village
plan
Saratoga
Management
accolade
C i t y u p d a t e
Saratoga is still in the process of
adding Electric Vehicle stations.
The city might be adding new
high-speed stations at the
Saratoga Library. What this
means is that people with
electric vehicles can charge
them while parked. On Dec.
16, the council authorized the
city manager to apply for grant
funding from the Bay Area Air
Quality Management District
for DC fast charger plug-in
electric vehicle charging stations
in the library parking lot. The
city currently has two dual-head
electric vehicle stations at city
hall, two single-head stations in
the Village and one dual-head
station at the Saratoga Library.
These stations are slower
charging pumps that were
installed in 2012
Saratoga moving
forward in
Electric Vehicle
Station
implementation
Are you happy with Saratogva
Village? Do you have ideas and
thoughts about it? Do you want to
keep it exactly the way it is? Or
would you like to see it more
vibrant? Here is your chance
The City of Saratoga has kicked-
off the Saratoga Village Specific
Plan Update process with a
community outreach effort. The
purpose is to solicit your thoughts
about the Saratoga Village
commercial district on Big Basin
Way. The Saratoga Village
Specific Plan (the “Village Plan”),
which was adopted in 1988 and
has not been updated since, lays
out the policies and regulations
for development and land use in
the Village.
Here is the website to stay
connected with this topic
www.saratogavillageplan.org A
survey was added where residents
were able to weigh in on the
Village plan and express what
they value the most about the
Village, their likes and dislikes,
and where the Village can be
improved.
Please refer to this website for
updatees on this vision plan
COUNCILMEMBER KUMAR’S NEWSLETTER Q1 2016 Page 2 of 25

3
Public Works staff has been
working with Zayo Group
representatives on their
encroachment master plan
application for traffic control to
install fiber optics in the following
areas: Prospect Road, S. Saratoga-
Sunnyvale Road, Saratoga
Avenue, Allendale Avenue, Quito
Road, Cox Avenue, and Glen
Brae Drive. All aerial cable will be
installed on existing utility poles
residing inside the City of
Saratoga’s right-of-way. The
Community Development and
Public Works departments have
reviewed the plans, and the City
Attorney has helped with the
development of the agreement.
Public Works is working with the
Zayo Group to approve the
master plan application.
Annual Sheriff’s
office community
forum with the
community
Fiber optics
installation by
zayo Group
Representatives
The Prospect Road
Beautification and Safety
Improvements Project will
make roadway improvements
on Prospect Road between
Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road and
Lawrence Expressway. The City
will be addressing the goals
below, which community
members identified during the
Master Plan process for
Prospect Road. Developing 16
additional new medians with
landscaping along the 1.9 mile
long stretch of Prospect Road
between every intersection
from Saratoga-Sunnyvale to
Lawrence Expressway would be
one of them. Installing
sidewalks where gaps have been
identified, specifically between
Plumas and Scully Avenue,
between Miller and Titus, and
between Titus and Brookglen.
Public Works will be holding its
second Prospect Road Median
Beautification Project meeting
on Monday, March 7, in the
Grace Building at Prospect
Center. The City will send out
public notices about the meeting
next week. The event will begin
at 4 p.m. and will be an open
house to give residents the
opportunity to ask consultants
and City staff about the project.
Light refreshments will be
served.
Prospect road
beautification
project is under
way
C i t y u p d a t e
A newly launched annual Sheriff's
Office Community Forum
provided provide us all an
opportunity to interact with our
sheriff, ask questions and have a
dialogue. This was initiated by
Councilmember Kumar gearing it
to be a focused Q&A event
The Santa Clara County Sheriff's
Office and City of Saratoga hosted
this community forum on Tuesday,
February 23, from 7 to 9 p.m. at
the Saratoga Senior Center, 19655
Allendale Avenue. About 20
Saratoga residents attended this
interactive forum to ask questions,
received updates from the Sheriff’s
Office, and learned more about
public safety efforts in Saratoga.
Citizens are invited to join the
citizen initiatives SAFE
SARATOGA FORUM’s Facebook
Group:
facebook.com/groups/SafeSaratog
a
The City of Saratoga were
accepting applications for its
Community Event Grant
Program.Applications. At the
March 16th
city council meeting,
these applications were chosen for
the grant awards. Events must be
held between July 1, 2016 and
June 30, 2017.
Community event
grant program

4
Back in January, the first ever
Saratoga Unity in Community
Day Saratoga was held at the
Saratoga Community Center and
a discussions with faith leaders.
The topics of conversation were
convergence of faiths, and the
general theme of living together
in harmony. The intention of this
Unity in Community day is to
bring an inter-faith group and
celebrate our similarities, sharing
words of wisdom that unites us,
fosters bonhomie and community
ship.
R E C A P O F E V E N T S …
UNITY IN OUR
Community event
Friendship concert
from japan
FRIENDSHIP CONCERT on
February 9th
- All the way from
Japan Hiiyama Girls Junior and
Senior High School Wind
Orchestra: This remarkable
ensemble from southern Japan
came to us as featured guest artists
at the California All State Music
Education Conference in San Jose.
The Hijiyama Girls Junior and
Senior High School Wind
Orchestra has 80 club members
ranging from 13 to 18 years of age
and played in us on the 9th
. The
ensemble attends numerous
contests, earning superior gold
medals at events such as the All
Japan Band Divisional
Competition and the All Japan
Ensemble Divisional Contest.
They perform about 30 concerts
per year, collaborating with
professional artists and groups like
the Glenn Miller Orchestra. The
Wind Orchestra performed a
diverse array of literature ranging
from challenging orchestral
transcriptions and original band
works to exciting popular and
contemporary fare, presented in a
highly vibrant and engaging style.
It was a thrilling performance
indeed
State of the city
address
The City of Saratoga hosted a State
of the City Address on Saturday,
February 27, 2016 and it took place
from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Civic
Theater, 13777 Fruitvale Avenue.
Mayor Manny Cappello and the rest
of the Saratoga City Council shared
with and helped the public learn
about the current state of the city.
We heard upcoming projects, and
the residents and organizations that
make Saratoga the wonderful city
that it is were honored for their
work.
Saratoga’s Monthly Bollywood
Night continues, this year
marking its rocking 5th
anniversary! First Friday of each
month, 7pm to Midnight. Lately
these monthly events are hosted
by Karishma & Deepak Chandani
at their home. This event is open
for teens and above and all are
welcome.
http://Tinyurl.com/SaratogaBol
lywood
Silicon Valley’s
got bollywood
Screening for
water wars
The Saratoga Library hosted a
screening of the documentary
film "Blue Gold, World Water
Wars" on Feb. 8. The film's
premise centers around the idea
that wars of the future will be
fought over water as they are
over oil today, and predicts that
corporate giants, private investors
and governments will vie for
control of our water supply,
prompting protests, lawsuits and
revolutions

5
A S K C O U N C I L M E M B E R K U M A R
A Q U E S T I O N
AIR Traffic
noise
Q: What is the latest on the
request to reduce air traffic noise
over traffic?
A: Here is the latest - Our city is
putting together a response to
FAA document “Initiative to
address noise concerns of Santa
Cruz/ Santa Clara/ San Mateo/
San Francisco”. The FAA
developed this document as a
result of meetings with elected
officials and community leaders
over the last several months.
Congresswoman Eshoo is also
introducing legislation that would
require FAA to plan with
communities before implementing
changes and also to restore the
EPA’s Office of Noise abatement
and Control - that was defunded
more than 3 decades ago. Stay
tuned - we are pushing this issue
SARATOGA
COX ROADS?
Q: Cox Avenue is a mess with the
recent construction. Will it be
just patched or will it be repaved?
A: City of Saratoga has a contract
that mandates a complete re-
paving of our roads that are dug
up by our service providers. We
should see Cox re-paved soon as
the ground has settled.
Q: Where is the plan for Saratoga
Roads Re-Paving/ Construction?
A: 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.
70 is a good PCI number that our city
aspires for with our roads. If you don’t
find your street listed and if you have any
questions, please contact our Public
Works Department
REPAVING
ROADS
BOOKING
SARATOGA
FACILITIES
Q: How do I book the Multi-
purpose room or any other
room at the Joan Pisani
Community Center?
A: Please call Nina and setup an
appointment
Nina Walker
Facility Coordinator
City Of Saratoga
19655 Allendale Ave.
Saratoga, CA. 95070
408.868.1259
SAFER
SARATOGA
Q: There are break-ins
happening almost every week.
What is the city council doing to
address that?
A: We have discussed various
ideas on enhancing
neighborhood safety on the city
council. We have added a new
annual meeting between Sheriff
and citizens. Yes, it is important
for us and you will continue to
see action.
In the meantime, please apply
some deterrents to prevent a
break-in into your home.

6
Last year, Councilmember Kumar attended many meetings and events in Saratoga and
the Silicon Valley region. Here are glimpses from a few in January and February this
year.
G l i m p s e s F R O M J A N U A R Y /
F E B R U A R Y
A SHORT SPEECH AT
INDIA’S Republic Day
celebration
ORGANIZED BY INDIA’s
COSUL GENERAL SAN
FRANCISCO MR
VENKATESHAN ASHOK

7
KICKING-OFF Saratoga’s First Unity in Community
Event in the JOAN Pisani Community Center
LAUNCHING THE
SAN JOSE
LOCATION OF
SILICON VALLEY
CODERS CLUB AT
THE HILLVIEW
LIBRARY
SPEAKERS AT THE
COLLEGE SeMINAR -
joan pisani
community
center

8
CONDUCTING A
COLLEGE SeMINAR
At the joan
pisani community
center
THE StATE OF
THE CITY
INAUGURATION:
SAN JOSE
LOCATION OF US
PATENT OFFICE

9
Standing on a bone
dry Saratoga creek:
Shooting the WINTER
INFORMATIONAL VIDEO
– This video can be
found on the city oF
Saratoga website
At a Chennai
Flood Relief
event -
recognizing the
performers
At aN EVENT WITH
GOVERNOR
BROWN’s
TRANSPORTATION
SECRETARY BRIAN
KELLY

10
With founder of 5-
Hour Energy Ravi
Baswan - a high
energy innovator
and a Saratoga
resident
AT a
CONGRESSWOMAN
PELOSI EVENT WITH
U.S. Treasury
Secretary Jack
Lew
A SARATOGA
community choice
energy
community input
meeting

11
With League of CA
cities board members.
Honored to represent
our CITY OF SARATOGA
AND THE League of
California cities API
CAucus at thE
quarterly policy
meeting IN SACRAMENTO
COUNCILMEMBER KUMAR HAS BEEN APPOINTED ON THE FOLLOWING
COMMITTEES:
- League of CA Cities Employee Relations Policy
- League of CA Cities Administrative Policy Committee
- National League of Cities, Energy and Environmental Resources
WITH SAN jose
councilmember chappie
jones and Sunnyvale
councilmember jim davis-
AT THE LEAGUE OF
CALIFORNIA CITIES POLICY
MEETING IN SACRAMENTO.

12
At the Asian
Pacific Islander
Caucus meeting
in San jose.

13
HAM RADIO AND
EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS
CONFERENCE IN
SARATOGA
SARATOGA
LIBRARY – TEDX
A HIGH SCHOOL
BAND FROM JAPAN
PERFORMS AT
Saratoga high

14
WATER POLICY
CONFERENCE –
WASHINGTON DC
WITH LEADEr
PELOSI

15
BOMBAY IN THE
BAY 2016 – MCAFEE
THEATER
WITH NEWT
GINGRICH AT A
SILICON VALLEY
LEADERSHIP EVENT

16
WITH
COUNCILMEMBER
MAGDALENA
CARRASCO AT THE
SAN JOSE LAUNCH
OF CODERS CLUB

17
PENINSULA EVENT –
hosted by the
League of Ca
cities
AT A COMMUNITY
CENTER EVENT

18
A BANGLADESH AMERICAN POLITICAL CLUB EVENT
WITH TRUSTEE PAT CORTESE & SUPERVISOR DAVE
CORTESE
WITH KAMALINEE
MUKHERJEE –
BOLLYWOOD MOVIE
ACTRESS AT INDIA’s
REPUBLIC DAY
CELEBRATION AT
McAFEE CENTER
SARATOGA

19
WATER POLICY MEETING WITH
Congressional LEADERS In
Washington dc
- ORGANIZED BY
ACWA

20
At GAVIN NEWSOM’S 2016 state ballot, the Safety for All Act EVENT,
IN this picture
with OAKLAND’S
MAYOR LIBBY
SCHAFF
IN this picture
with LT.
GOVERNOR GAVIN
NEWSOME
IN this picture
with SAN
FRANCISCO’S
MAYOR ED LEE

21
CITY STREetS
BUZZING WITH
#SB50
A SELFIE WITH
SENATOR BEALL
AND MAYOR
LICCARDO
MASTER CO IN
SARATOGA

22
with ASSEMBLYMEMBER
MARK STONE
with SENATOR BILL
MONNING
with Former
councilmember rod
diridon sr. (Saratoga)

23
PICTUReS BELOW – GLIMPSeS FROM THE SUNDAY
COMMUNITY CLASSES

24

25

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Saratoga City Councilmember's Q1 2016 Newsletter