Wildfire preparedness, infrastructure enhancements and financial vitality have been the massive matters of Saratoga Mayor Belal Aftab’s State of the Metropolis deal with on Sept. 20 at Argonaut Elementary Faculty.
“Usually at the State of the City, we’ll list out all of the things that we did,” Aftab mentioned. “But behind each of those items is a story, where people in our city–residents, city staff, nonprofits, agencies–they all came together to try and make things better for the place we all call home.”
The State of the Metropolis is a yearly occasion the place the mayor updates residents on Saratoga’s progress and priorities and celebrates the individuals and organizations that help the town. It coincided with a Secure Routes to Faculty occasion the place youngsters might take part in a bicycle impediment course or get helmets fitted and bikes repaired. There was additionally security schooling and free bike helmets for college kids.
A number of different native officers have been additionally in attendance, together with Santa Clara County Supervisor Margaret Abe-Koga, Los Gatos Vice Mayor Rob Moore, Los Altos Vice Mayor Neysa Fligor and several other different representatives from the Santa Clara County Hearth Division, the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Division and members of faculty boards in and round Saratoga.
Aftab broke his speech into three components: put together, join and shield. He identified residents’ efforts to remain ready for wildfires and earthquakes, like becoming a member of Firewise USA and dealing with the Santa Clara County FireSafe Council. He additionally introduced that the town can be placing $349,000 towards vegetation administration in parks and trails and inspiring non-public residents to construct defensible house.
Whereas seeking to the longer term, Aftab reminded residents that extra housing is coming, which has been a controversial matter within the metropolis.
“My sincere hope is that for all of the new neighbors that will be coming to Saratoga, we’ll be welcoming and kind to them just as we do with all of our existing neighbors today,” Aftab mentioned.
The mayor additionally highlighted residents’ want for connection, highlighting native occasions and efforts to encourage extra foot site visitors to Saratoga Village, like brightening parking heaps, shifting sidewalks, fixing drainage, putting in clearer indicators and unveiling the primary public restroom within the downtown space. Aftab mentioned the council can be asking enterprise house owners to verify vacant storefronts look “nice and tidy” whereas attempting to make it simpler for residents to get completely different sorts of permits.
“None of this work is flashy, but it’s part of how downtown can actually start to feel alive,” the mayor mentioned.
He additionally acknowledged West Valley School’s makes an attempt to shoulder the price of meals and housing for its college students and considerations in regards to the Trump administration’s therapy of visas and visaholders.
“It’s on all of us to make Saratoga a better place to live, to gather, to belong,” Aftab mentioned.
Lastly, Aftab spoke about safety, or “the everyday stuff that helps everyone get home at night,” like protected crosswalks, bodily infrastructure that makes it simpler and safer to get round, outlined bike lanes and decrease pace limits round college. He introduced that the town had secured funding for a brand new site visitors sign and using license plate reader cameras to trace stolen autos and stop thefts.
He closed the State of the Metropolis deal with by saying that whereas Saratoga is coping with lots of the similar points as many different California cities, he hoped that the town can be recognized for its kindness.
“If we become known as a city that’s just a little bit nicer than everybody else,” Aftab mentioned, “we already are a particular place, nevertheless it’ll make us that rather more a particular place.
“You face the same headlines that are in every California city,” he added. “Rising costs, tight revenues, a lot of rules that are changing mid-game. The way through this is what we’ve always done: Do the work, mining the basics, taking care of each other. And what comes next is really ours to shape.”
Aftab additionally offered Saratoga’s annual group awards. Santa Clara County firefighter and engineer Michael Buchanan was acknowledged as Firefighter of the Yr. Santa Clara County Deputy Sheriff Brandon Perez acquired an award for Officer of the Yr. Susan Stark was chosen by the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce as Businessperson of the Yr. The Chamber additionally acknowledged Tiger Teerlink as Citizen of the Yr. Kenz Espresso Bar proprietor Mohammed Subeh was acknowledged with the town’s Braveness and Management Award. Lastly, Aftab awarded Group of the Yr to the Saratoga Historic Basis.
