By Khalida Sarwari
It’s out with the old and in with the new for Saratoga’s two Tree City USA signs, after city officials voted to replace the existing aluminum signs with carved wood signs.
The decision was made at the Sept. 18 city council meeting, where the council voted 4-0 to approve an updated design and budget for the signs, which stand at the Saratoga Avenue and Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road entrances to the city. Per Councilman Howard Miller’s recommendation, the council agreed to modify the resolution to include two additional signs to be posted at yet-to-be-determined locations.
The new signs will measure 24 by 36 inches, will be light brown with green lettering and will be mounted on wooden instead of metal poles. The cost to make and install two signs is about $2,500. The council agreed to use funds from the city’s discretionary budget to buy the new signs.
“The signs are designed by a local architect and are quite attractive, I think,” public works director John Cherbone said.
The effort to establish Saratoga as a Tree City and upgrade the signs was spearheaded by Mayor Jill Hunter.
“I’m just going to say how emotional I feel about this,” Hunter said, after the resolution was approved. “Seven years on the council became worthwhile tonight for me.”
The council’s discussion focused on various aspects of the signs and their locations. Miller inquired about areas with more visibility, such as medians.
“We could do a first-class sign and make it a little more prominent than just shoved off to the side,” he said.
Vice Mayor Emily Lo asked about positioning the signs at locations that are “less prone to vandalism.” Medians, Cherbone noted, pose a lower risk of getting vandalized.
Councilman Manny Cappello said he liked the preliminary design and asked Cherbone whether the signs can be lit at night. Cherbone indicated that was a possibility.
“We might be able to put solar lights on them,” he said. “That’s an easy one.”
The council also entertained the possibility of double-sided signs and briefly discussed locations for the two additional signs. Councilman Chuck Page was absent from the meeting.
According to the city, the signs convey that Saratoga is participating in the Tree City program.
The city of Saratoga has been a “Tree City” since 2007, when it agreed to participate in a national program run through the Arbor Day Foundation and supported by the USDA Forest Service and Community Forestry Program Any municipality that participates in the program receives the framework for community forestry management.
Communities achieve Tree City USA status by meeting four standards of sound urban forestry management: maintaining a tree board, department or arborist, having a tree care ordinance that provides direction on maintenance, planting and removal of trees in public places, spending at least $2 per capita on urban forestry and an Arbor Day celebration.
Once designated a Tree City USA, participating cities are required to apply for recertification annually to maintain the title.
