Saratoga Seeks Applicants For City Commissions

The City of Saratoga is seeking to fill three vacancies on the Heritage Preservation Commision and Planning Commission.

The city needs candidates to complete the remainder of an unfinished term on the Heritage Preservation Commission that ends Jan. 1, 2014. Applications are due Feb. 26. Interviews are scheduled for March 6.

The city is also accepting applications for two full four-year terms on the Planning Commission. Applications are due March 12. Interviews are scheduled March 20.

The HPC functions as a liaison working in conjunction with the Council, the Planning Commission, and city agencies and departments to implement its Heritage Preservation Ordinance.

The HPC's scope includes property surveys within city boundaries to establish an official inventory of heritage resources and recommending to the Saratoga City Council specific proposals for designation as a historic landmark, heritage trees, heritage lanes or historic districts.

One member is nominated by the Saratoga Historical Foundation and two members must be trained and experienced in the field of construction and structural rehabilitation, such as a licensed architect, engineer, contractor or urban planner.

The HPC meets at 8:30 a.m. the second Tuesday of every month at the Admin Conference Room.

The Planning Commission advises the Council on land-use matters such as the General Plan and specific plans, zoning and subdivisions.

The commission plans for the city's future orderly physical development and informs and educates the public on current land-use and urban planning issues.

The members of the Saratoga Planning Commision are Mary-Lynne Bernald, David Reis, Leonard Almalech, Pragati Grover, Vice chairwoman Joyce Hlava, Yan Zhao, and chairwoman Tina K. Walia. Reis and Walia's terms are ending in April.