MAY NEWSLETTER Rishi Kumar, City Councilmember, Saratoga My monthly City Council update http://www.rishikumar.com/rishis-newsletter.html Direct all city/council related emails to rkumar@saratoga.ca.us Connect with Rishi —> Facebook.com/Rishi || linkedin.com/in/rickkumar PHONE 408 805 5993 || Facebook.com/VoteRishi || @rishikumar1 Office hours: 1st Saturday every month, Bell Tower Bistro (10AM to 11AM) Keep up with the latest, subscribe to Councilmember Rishi Kumar’s newsletter http://groups.google.com/group/GreatSaratoga

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m a y 2 0 1 5 N E W S L E T T E R
Dear friends,
I just completed the first six months as a
Saratoga city councilmember. I
consider public service to be an honor
and am privileged to serve our
community. I seek to do my best in
serving each and every Saratoga
citizen!
I am absolutely energized by what our
council has accomplished these past few
months. But there is lot more to be done - the
possibilities are incredible. I must say it has been a great experience to be on
the council, collaborating with thoughtful citizens and our wonderful city staff.
Listening is very important; listening to all your ideas and issues, and then
taking action. It is truly an opportunity to make a difference for our citizens, our community and our city.
ZEST TO SERVE: My quest is very simple – to enhance the quality of life for our community, and provide services that are
cheaper, faster, better for our citizens. This zest will continue every day I am in office. I have tried to be proactive in addressing
concerns and issues raised by our citizens, keeping the desires and wants of our community in perspective. I seek to bring my vision
and ideas onto our city council agenda for discussion and perhaps implementation. There is the tried and established, and there is an
opportunity to innovate – that is the Silicon Valley thinking and that is what I will always bring to the council.
WHAT WE ACCOMPLISHED? This past month we had the Early Warning System (EWS) on the council agenda. We are finally
getting ready to replace the archaic EWS system, and let citizens pick the service that best meets their needs, hopefully at a much
cheaper price tag. We are also exploring update of the tree ordinance to make it easier to cut down dead trees for our citizens,
without having to pay an upfront fee. We also made a decision that when we have city signs posted at a project site for informative
purposes, to also include the city website URL (provide more detailed information) along with a QR code to make it easier for our
citizens to find information. That is in keeping with my charter to make information easily accessible for our citizens.
COUNCIL MEETING UPDATE FROM MAY: Water was a hot
topic at the 2nd council meeting in May with Nai Hsueh, Santa Clara
Water District Board Member and John Tang, San Jose Water
Company VP, Government Affairs invited. San Jose Water
Company’s proposal for water allocations for each household is
based upon an average in all of their service area. I asked for a Plan B
from the San Jose Water Company to address the needs of our
citizens. Many pertinent questions were raised by our citizens that
evening. Later this month, I also attended the CPUC, San Jose mtg.
That’s all I have! Browse through the contents below - you may find
something interesting. As always, let me know how I can help.
Email is the best way to reach me. Thanks!
- Rishi (rkumar @ saratoga.ca.us) 50t h
YEAR
CELEBRATION
OF
WEST
VALLEY
COLLEGE

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C i t y c o u n c i l U p d a t e s
JUNE CITY
COUNCIL AGENDA
HIGHLIGHTS
o Fiscal Year 2015/16 Budget
Adoption 6/3
o Early Warning System6/3
o Tobacco Retailer
Licensing Ordinance 6/3
and 6/17
o Annual Code Updates
6/17
You can watch a live streaming of
the meetings (and prior meetings)
here . To be subscribed to city
council agenda notification. Click
here. City council agendas are
always posted the prior week:
Posted here City council meetings
MONEY BACK TO
SARATOGA?
This was a hot topic at the 2nd
council meeting on May 20th.
Later on May 28th
, every seat was
taken at the San Jose Water
Company's 30% reduction plan
proposal presentation, discussion,
evaluation with the CA Public
Utility Commission. Many of the
citizens were not happy with the
SJWC Proposal to maintain a
minimum of 6,732 gallons per
month. Click here for more
information
Saratoga’s
Litigation for
highway 85
The city council has decided to
sue Caltrans, VTA for the
Highway 85 expansion project.
Find more information here
http://www.saratoga.ca.us/whatsnew/hig
hway_85.asp
Youth commission
interviews
Saratoga City council interviewed
53 applicants for the youth
commission and selected 5 youth
members of the community for a
2 year term in a meeting that
lasted 7 hours. There will be 6
openings on the Youth
Commission next year. Please
check our city website for details
on the application process for
2016
FISCAL YEAR
2015/2016 BUDGEt
FISCAL YEAR 2015/16 Budget
Adoption was on the agenda at the
last council meeting.
BUDGET PRIORITIES
With the strength of the economy
improving and Saratoga’s growing
financial stability the following
priorities of the FY 2015/16
budget are:
o Improve Local Roads
o Address Financial Liabilities
o Enhance Community
Engagement
Review the complete
budget at
facebook.com/voteRishi
Water 3o%
Reduction??
Did you know that Saratoga is
aiming for net new property taxes
back to our community and
correct an inequity that exists
today? We are pushing hard…
After adoption of Proposition 13
in 1978, these no property
tax/low property tax cities were
locked into pre-existing property
tax rates that restricted their
ability to provide essential
services to residents. Since then,
the inequities have been corrected
for all of California’s no/low
property tax or Tax Equity
Allocation (TEA) cities with the
exception of those in Santa Clara
County. Hopefully soon…
Crime safety
FORUM
Our annual crime safety forum
was conducted in May at the
Saratoga Senior Center. Many
citizens participated.
Did you know that Saratga was the
5th
safest city in California in 2014?
Check out the presentation and the
press coverage from that day at
Facebook.com/groups/SafeSaratoga

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CITY COUNCIL TO
MEET WITH
NEIGHBORHOODS
The annual joint meeting
between the Saratoga City
Council and neighborhood
associations takes place June 3.
The meeting--5:30-7 p.m. at
the Saratoga Senior Center--
will provide an opportunity for
residents to receive an update
about the city's activities and
hear a presentation from the
sheriff's office. It is open to one
and all.
BOLLYWOOD IN
SARATOGA
A family friendly BOLLYWOOD
based talent show, where anything
and everything goes; songs,
dances, stand-up comedy, musical
performances etc. from all parts
of the world. This is a relaxed
cozy setting, to inter-mingle and
make some new friends.
WHEN? – We are usually on the
1st Friday of the month (check
our facebook.com/SiliconValleyB
ollywood for the latest update)
WHERE? – Blue Rock Shoot
(14523 Big Basin Way, Silicon
Valley CA)
There is no cover charge for this
event
http://www.siliconvalleybollywo
od.com/ or facebook.com/Silico
nValleyBollywood for details
LET’S WORK
Volunteer event at the Quarry
Park. The participants will be
divided into working groups of
10-12 and will help remove
invasive plants to clear the trail.
Each group will be led by
volunteer leaders June 13th 9AM
Let’s work together and make a
better Saratoga
The Summer Movie Nights series
once again at El Quito Park
- June 19 screening of "The LEGO
Movie."
July 17- Wreck it Ralph,
August 2- Big Hero 6.
The event begins at 7:30 p.m.
with the movie starting at 8:30
p.m.
Ticket? This event is free. But, do
not forget to bring blanket, lawn
chairs and snacks.
WHERE: El Quito Park is at
12855 Paseo Presada.
MOVIE NIGHT
IN SARATOGA
U P C O M I N G E V E N T S
Audition for the annual talent
competition Saratoga Has Talent!
Send your audition videos
Applications are at:
http://www.tinyurl.com/saratogatalent
SARATOGA HAS TALENT:
RAISE MONEY FOR THE
SENIOR CENTER
YOUNG CODERS CLUB
For middle and high schoolers - run by
Saratoga students.
Kick-off meeting this Sunday June 7th at
3pm @Joan Pisani Community Center:
19655 Allendale Ave, Saratoga, CA
95070. Get the fast track to learning
about Software and Apps.
Kids will learn from each other, to code,
create mobile apps, design/create video
games. Every Sunday, a local Saratoga
resident Software executive will be
invited to meet the club
Seating is limited - RSVP at
http://www.tinyurl.com/SaratogaClass
This class is available for no charge

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G L I M P S E S F R O M M A Y
SARATOGA CREEK CLEANUP WITH SARATOGA
BOY SCOUTS AND GIRL SCOUTS
Photo agreement with clean water.org
Recognizing the newly certified CERT MEMBERS OF Silicon
VALLEYat SARATOGA COMMUNITY CENTER
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PANCAKE BREAKFAST AT SARATOG HIGH
ANNUAL SARATOGA MUSIC BOOSTER FUNDRAISER
STRIDE FOR SUSIE 2015 at SARATOGA HIGH SCHOOL
SARATOGAN RON HAGELIN
1952-1957 Korean waR:
MEMORIAL DAY CELEBRATION AT
MADRONIA CEMETRY

6. AT THE SAN JOSE WATER COMPANY
CPUC MEETING IN SAN JOSE, MAY 28
Check OUT THE BUDGET DOC
FACEBOOK.COM/VOTERISHI
Saratoga community band AT
KEVIN MORAN PARK
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