After months spent working on an effort to revitalize Saratoga’s commercial scene, the Saratoga City Council was split in its decision to advance a pilot outdoor dining program for a fine dining restaurant in the city’s downtown.
The city council in May voted to put together an ad hoc committee to come up with ideas to improve Saratoga’s commercial scene, and the group has been meeting with residents and community members since then to solicit feedback and brainstorm ideas. That effort culminated in the committee presenting its findings and recommendations to the city council at a Nov. 6 meeting. The findings were divided into citywide recommendations and recommendations for the Saratoga Village on Big Basin Way, widely considered the city’s downtown area.
Though the council unanimously approved the citywide recommendations, including plans to work toward business grants and support marketing and promotion for the city, they failed to approve recommendations specific to the Village. Vice mayor Belal Aftab and councilmember Chuck Page, both members of the ad hoc committee on economic vitality, were in favor of advancing a pilot outdoor dining program that would allow Hero Ranch Kitchen restaurant to expand its outdoor dining with logistical support from city staff.
But Mayor Yan Zhao and councilmember Tina Walia were opposed to the recommendations. Zhao said though she was supportive of making Saratoga more “vibrant,” she didn’t feel that the Saratoga Village was in need of revitalization, arguing instead that the handful of events that take place in the area each year are indicative of a thriving economic hub.
“For me, our downtown is pretty vibrant,” she said. “We have so many community events.”
Zhao said she was also resistant to putting money or resources into the pilot program because of Saratoga’s projected budget deficit, and said the sales tax revenue that would result from outdoor dining at Hero Ranch Kitchen wouldn’t be enough to justify the city’s contribution.
“The math doesn’t add up to me,” she said.
Page and Aftab said they didn’t envision the city contributing to the outdoor dining project beyond an amount in the “single digit thousands.” Page said businesses in the Village wouldn’t be successful without intervention.
“Don’t say the next time you run for anything that you support businesses, because you absolutely positively do not, especially in this town.” Page said, which was met with applause from the community members at the meeting.
Walia similarly expressed concerns about the financial aspect of the project.
“I support businesses, I do support the vibrancy, but I also am fiscally very responsible,” she said.
With councilmember Kookie Fitzsimmons recused from the discussion because she owns property in the Village, Aftab’s motion to approve the recommendations failed in a 2-2 vote, with Zhao and Walia opposing.
Zhao also directed staff to bring forward a resolution to the council that would dissolve the ad hoc committee on economic vitality.
Saratoga’s economic vitality has continued to be a contentious topic at city council meetings recently even when the issue has not been on the agenda, with residents calling for the city to do more to support the Saratoga Village.
Six residents turned out Nov. 6 to speak on the matter in person, but several more submitted written public comments on the topic before the meeting.
“Saratoga’s unique charm deserves preservation, yet we must embrace progress and change to ensure our city’s sustainability,” resident Ashis Roy said in written public comment. “Without a focused initiative on economic development, our businesses are at risk.”