By Khalida Sarwari
It’s not enough that Saratoga city officials provided an outlet last month for residents to express their thoughts and ideas about the Highway 85 project. A more passionate segment of residents want their elected officials to do more.
About half a dozen people attended the May 7 city council meeting to convey their dissatisfaction with the way they believe their elected officials are moving forward with the controversial project. The council had intended to discuss only the accuracy of the minutes of the April 21 workshop but ended up allowing the public to come forward with their thoughts.
Several people asked the council to publicly state their position on the proposed project and to work more aggressively to convey the residents’ unhappiness with the project. Some even suggested that the council redirect money from the Prospect Road Beautification and Safety Improvements Project to use on attorney fees should the city take legal action against the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority.
One resident recommended for Saratoga city officials to partner with other cities to take a joint stance against the project. Another brought a list of more questions for the council.
Jeff Schwartz, an outspoken opponent of the project, said that while he found the workshop to be helpful, he was disappointed to find omissions in a summary report.
“The minutes refer to a consensus, but actually the 70 or so residents in attendance were unanimous in their opposition to the proposed 85 freeway expansion project,” Schwartz said. “There is a difference between a consensus and unanimity.”
He asked that the council go on record as opposing the project in its current form, vote to request a full environmental impact report and vote to maintain the provisions of the original Highway 85 freeway contracts with Caltrans and the Santa Clara County Transportation Agency.
“All of those actions could be agendized as action items for the next council meeting if the council truly opposes this project as it is currently talked about,” Schwartz said.
Cheriel Jensen asked that the council confront the VTA about honoring existing contracts as Los Gatos and Cupertino have done.
“Please take action,” Jensen implored. “Write a letter to VTA; tell them what Saratoga’s position is.”
Councilman Howard Miller was the only one on the dais who addressed the speakers. He acknowledged that the Saratoga City Council has not taken a direct position on the project. As for the legal agreements, he said he believes the city took a more “enlightened” stance in addressing the VTA.
“We asked for the legal justification by which they wouldn’t have to follow the agreements,” Miller said. “We thought that gave us a better position, that we could get their legal justification before we disclose any legal strategy on that.”
In response to residents who complained about the council remaining silent about its own stance at the April 21 workshop, Councilman Manny Cappello reiterated that the intention of the workshop was to allow the public to give their input and for the council to simply observe and listen.
Residents voice their dissatisfaction with council over Hwy. 85
