COVID-19 Update

The number of Santa Clara County residents contracting COVID-19 and the number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 continues to rise significantly, reaching record levels. The State of California's Regional Stay at Home Order has been implemented in Santa Clara County and will remain in effect through January 7, 2021.

This order is in place to protect the region's ICU capacity and prevent it from reaching a critical point. Lack of ICU capacity means that you and your loved ones may not receive the care you need if you fall seriously ill—with COVID or otherwise. This holiday season, it is absolutely critical that everyone stay at home and not leave for anything other than essential activities. We must work together to slow the surge and ensure our hospitals have the capacity to provide care to anyone who needs it.

There is also a Mandatory Directive on Travel that strongly discourages leisure and non-essential travel, and it requires anyone entering the County to quarantine for 14 days upon return from travel more than 150 miles away. For more information on COVID-19, how to get tested, and ways to access City of Saratoga services virtually, visit www.saratoga.ca.us/covid19

Meet Your City Council

At the City Council Reorganization on December 15, newly elected Council Members Tina Walia and Kookie Fitzsimmons were sworn into office to serve alongside fellow Council Members Mary-Lynne Bernald, Rishi Kumar, and Yan Zhao. The Council selected Yan Zhao to serve as Mayor and Tina Walia to serve as Vice Mayor this year. Outgoing Mayor Howard Miller and Former Council Member Manny Cappello were also thanked for their years of service to the community. Visit www.saratoga.ca.us/council to learn more about your new Saratoga City Council.

Calling All Saratoga Artists!

Submit your application to turn plain utility boxes into works of art! Through the City's Paint the City program, 3 more utility boxes will be painted by Saratoga artists. Saratoga residents ages 10 and older can submit applications by January 31, 2021. Selected artists will receive a $600 stipend. For information about the process, or to get inspired by previous designs, visit www.saratoga.ca.us/paintthecity

Nextdoor Digest

Watch SED Talks for Teens
Teens and Parents, if you missed SED Talks—TED Talks, Saratoga style—you can still watch the video online to hear the three speakers! The Saratoga Youth Commission and the Library's Teen Advisory Board hosted this event to share first-hand experiences and expert advice about various teen-centered topics, from life skills to mental health.

Youth Commission’s New YouTube Series
Watch Episode 1 of the Saratoga Youth Commission's YouTube Series, Saratoga Speaks. The Commission created this YouTube Series to raise youth awareness about local and global events, and this episode features a recap of teens' experiences during 2020.

Living Room Conversations
Join your neighbors for meaningful Living Room Conversations on the first Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. No debate, no heat—just respectful speaking and listening. The Saratoga Ministerial Association and the City of Saratoga host these events so the community can come together and engage on topics that are important to everyone. Find conversation guides and information to join the virtual conversations using Zoom at www.saratoga.ca.us/LRC

Quick Tip from Captain Rich

Make sure you stay safe on the road when it is raining. Give yourself extra time to reach your destination, reduce your speed, break earlier and slower, turn on your headlights and defroster, keep an eye out for pedestrians, and avoid any distractions.

Ask Our Staff

Q: I understand the City of Saratoga will soon be updating its Housing Element. What is the status now, and how can I get involved?

A: Every 8 years, California Cities are required to update their Housing Element to plan for projected housing needs at all income levels. A key component of this process is the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA).

The State has determined 441,176 new housing units need to be constructed in the Bay Area between 2023 and 2031. The Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) has developed a methodology to distribute this number among each of the Cities and Counties in the Bay Area beginning in Spring 2021. Based on ABAG’s draft methodology, we are expecting Saratoga’s RHNA to be approximately 1,712 new units. This is an increase compared to the City’s last RHNA of 439 units.? The City of Saratoga submitted a comment letter to ABAG expressing concerns and providing input on the draft methodology.

ABAG is hosting two webinars to present the Draft RHNA Methodology. The first was held on December 18. The second will be held on Tuesday, January 5 from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. The Zoom link is http://bit.ly/2KC6C8D, and the passcode is 011333.

Once the draft methodology is approved and the City receives its RHNA, the Housing Element update process will begin in Saratoga. Please stay engaged with the City throughout this important process! We will continue to share information and ways you can get involved, ask questions, and share your feedback. For more information, visit www.saratoga.ca.us/rhna

Connect with the City of Saratoga

For more updates on what's happening in the City, visit the City of Saratoga's website, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, join the Nextdoor community, or sign up to receive notifications you're interested in. To suggest Saratoga Source story ideas or ask a question, contact Lauren Pettipiece at lpettipiece@saratoga.ca.us

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