HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-30-1968 City Council Minutes SAraTOGA CITY COUNCIL
SL~ARY OF
TI~:~E: MONDAY, SEPTFIBER 30, 1968 - 7:30 P/'%
PLACE: SAPJ~TOGA CITY COUNCIL C~T.~B~RS, 13777 FRUITVALE AVE., SAraTOGA, CALIF,
TYPE: ADJOURI'IED REGULAR ~ZETING OF SEPTE~.!BER 18, 1968
II, ORGANIZATION
~ayor Tyler opened the meeting at 7:33 P.M.
A. ROLL CALL
Present: Councilmen Tyler, Robbins, Smith, Sanders, D~.~er
Absent: None
B. MI~JTES
Councilman Robbins asked that on page 7, in ~he insert paragraph, follo~.~
Minutes ing the phrase "all previous bids" that the clause "re~.~rfte the specifi-
cations for Gflsoniting and issue ne~ bid calls" be inserted.
-T.~yor ~yler asked that the word "recessed" be used instead of "adJourned"
the meetin~ in the first sentence of the final paragraph on pa~e~9.
~r. Robbins moved that the readin~ of the ~inutes be ~.yaived and that they
be approved as corrected. ~r. Smith seconded the motion ~yhieh carried
unanimously.
II. SOUTHeiST AmmXATION
A, ~Iayor Tyle~ sum~arized hi~' ehinkinq on Consideration of recommendations
to LAFCO re~arding the DrYposed Sanitation District ~]o. 4 Annexation
1968-5 as follows:
1) The question to determine first was ~.yhether or not it was in the
best interests of the City of Saratoga for it to control land devel-
.'~opments in the hills;
2) That if so, should such controls be exercised by annexation, or by
measures short of annexation;
3) Pending the answer to these questions, ho~ should it be accomplished.
B, In response to ~!r. Tyler's question of did or did not Saratoga ~ant con-
trols over land development, ?~r. Robbins stated that the City should have
control, primarily because of the impact of develo?ments on the City, and
for the other reasons presented in Planning Director ~alker's memo on
the subject,
The individual Council members indicated aFreement that the City control
of land developments was desirable.
C. On the possibility of whether or not the City wished to attempt controls
short of annexation, the ~ayor commented that he understood it was not
the ~lsh to enlarge in either population or area, but certainly there was
a desire to see that development would be controlled, and the question
should be explored.
Mr. Smith commented that important to City control. of the area lyin~
within its sphere of influence was zonin~ control of densities, x~hich
was well within the intent of the General Plan, as expressed by the
citizen subcommittees ~hich asked that hillside development controls be
undertake~,
Mr. Robbins said tkat S~rato~a had positive thinFs to offer people in the
way of plannln~, and that good plannin~ was an extension of the General
Plan.
~1r. Sanders added that any measure short of annexation mf~ht provide a
fe~ services, but would still fall short of the intent which lay behind
the original incorporat~on of Saratoga, and that in the lop? run, City
controls ~ould be of benefit ~o all,
Mr. Dx-~er stated that he ~,ms satisfied that there was no useful, depend~','~',
able way of ~.,.~orking through the County, and ~'~r. Tyler said that he ~ish-
ed there were~ but it seemed not.
The ~ayor~ x,;ithout o~]ection~ called for expression of opinien f~om the
audience.
D. Audience
1. P~. Christensen of Christensen }Iurseries, 16000 Sanb~m Road, express-
ed opposition to any anexatlon at this time, sayinF he considered
it premature~ although it might come 15 to 20 years from now, and
he had also infomed the Sanitation District of his opposition.
2. Mr. 1,7iltia Keou~h, representing San Jose 1.7ater lJorks which holds
165 acres in the proposed annexation area~ said that his company was
oppdsin~ District No. 4's annexation primarily because much of the
area lay above the 1,7ater C~pany's service area, and that there was
doubt that there was enough ~-~ateE now available for sewage functions.
3. }it. T~ Leong~ representing Paul ~,!asson Vineyards, stated tbat his
company ~ms aKainst annexation by District 4, but that if it went
throu~h~ they would be i~ favor of annexation by the City to exercise
controls~.
4. Mr. Gary Giannini, said that he represented his mother and ~rs. C.
Bailey who o~,med approXim~t~ly 80 acreS[ and som~ o~h~r small land-
o~mers ~ho opposed annexa~i~n by District. ~, and by the City.
5. ~r, keo~h. said ~t ~,ms ~i~ ,aDi~ that pUmpS m{ght ~e needed at some
site~ t0 force the s~.;a~a. d~'see~p ihcli~es, ~d that there uere
errors of ~iSsi~n 6f ~e~ DroD~reie~ ih the D{st~ict 4 maD.
6. ~:~r. Dw{ght Prigkerr of ~e saratoga Land Co. s~id he spoke for h~
company and the Foundation for Christian Servfce~ in oD~Osin~ annex-
atfon by the City, but that they would not oppose it if a ~a]ority
Of lando~.mers wished to ~nex. He said that the area ~,~euld go
backward for lack of sanitation ~d that he questioned the flare
of only 22 percent who opposed .,~nnexation.
TIr. Stephen Goodman, Chief engineer of Sanitation District }]o. 4
said the record showed only 22 percent of the o~mers within the
proposed annexation area w~=e" in opposition to the District ann-
exation. '{r. Pri&Kett added that the nature of the terrain ~.7ould
prevent too ~reat a density in the mountain area.
7.. ~.~r. Don Skinner~ who stated that he o~,med more th~ 43 acres of Bf~
Basin !Jay said he opposed the District 4 proposal because of the
costs to property o~mers for connection ~o trunk sewer lines, and as
to City annexation~ he ~.7ould rather have Saratoga than San Jose, and
that he would not consider subdividing his property for another 10
to 20 years.
E. ~iayor Tyler asked that speakers from the audience address themselves to
the question of what controls should the Cit), impose if Sanitation
District No. 4's annexation were authorized.
1. A S~ Jose resideuts TIt, Dan HuttlinRer of Uinchester Road stated
that he considered the County ordinances on subdf~isf~ buildin~ and
grading pemits to be simi%ar to those of Saratoga; tbat he kne~,~ of
no use peruits ~ranted ~.yhen Saratoga objected; and that any fears that
the County woutd allow inappropriate uses was unfounded; and that any
attempt to annex at this time ~.;as foredoomed to failure.
2. ~lr. Don TIoss, a Saratoga resident and o~.mer in the area stated opposi-
tion to both proposed annexations.
3. }Ir. Albert Puccinelli, a resident of Red~,~ood City, but whose f~ily
had o~,med property in the proposed annexation area for more than qO years
spoke of the effect of slashtn~ hillsides fo~ roads and buildin~ site
pads, especially during periods of hea~ rainfalI ~.~hich caused severe
d~a~e fr~ landslides and erosion.
He said that in most years water in the area was not really sufficient,
but when hea,ry rains fell ~ravol e~d debris were washed dOx.m the creek
bed, and that whole hills could sl'~p when saturated, especially during
periods when as much as 100 inches of rainfall had been recorded.
4.; ~{r. Herbert C~an, president of the Foundation for Christain
Services, stated that the proposed development near the former Pick
Laboratories would include road improvements, and that developments
currently under consideration included not only individual homesi~es
but also a camp for underprivileged youth; and that the Foundation would
hot be opposed to annexation by Saratoga if the majority Of the people
concerned were not opposed.
F. Sanitation Services and Earth Faults
Mr. Dwyer asked Mr. Goodman if the District ~as satisfied that it coul~
provide sanitation services ~ithin the area, cad if the District had
consulted earth scientists re~ardin~ earthquake conditions and fault
lines within the proposed annexation area.
Mr. Goodman answered that the whole area as proposed fo~the Sanitation
District was essenCially tributary downhill to the main se~.?er line, and
that some properties lying t~ ~he north side' mi~t need pumpin~ for
sewage from a few low~ints. to ~he se~.yer~ bUtthat alternate routes
for the lines could be found alon~ parallel .~dad~ that could he built,
and be routed to subsidiary lines to the trunk at.!o~r points.
~ie stated that in reference to fault lines,.t~ Cd~t of replacino se~.yer
ii~s ~.~as n0~ ~rohibiti~e;'that the COst estimated.for ~nstallat~on ~.~ere
dpp~oxima~i~ ~224 ~er hcre f~r t~e :basic trhnk~ a~d! ab~t $1000 per
~C~ ~ ~de~ti~,s~. H~ s~iStbe ~neral situa~{on:~was comparable to
sew~ 1{~ {~aiiak{~h~ ~ ~Se iliii Road in Pal~ Aito.
G. City Versus County Control of Hillside Development
Mayor Tyler called for expression of Council opinion on ~.~hether or not
the City should attempt to exercise control over hitlside area develop- '
ment, or if some reliable arrangement with the County could be reached.
1. Councilman Smith stated that he thought Saratoga should control
future development, not the County, especially in reference to
problems concerned with the watershed, and specific services.
2. Councilman Sanders said that he a~reed with ~Ir. Smith, in that he
was not persuaded that County planning would be sufficient, nor equal
to Saratoga City Planning. Furtker, he ~.ould like the question put
to LAFCO, that if it agreed that hillside development lay within the
City's sphere of influence, if there should not be some adjustment
of the boundaries and confi~uration of the annexation area as
presently proposed by District 4.
3~. Mayor Tyler stated that he had discussed the boundaries questioned
with City Administrator Huff, and that ~.~hile some future cbanqes
might be advisable, the question was not pertinent at this time, since
-the problem under consideration was related to the proposed annex-
ation area as mapped by Sanitation District ~o.~ 4, and it was nec-
essary4~ tbi~ time to ~o alonS with their configuration.
4. ~r, Robbins commented that, even so, it might be feasible for
Saratoga to start its o~.m annexation proceedings, independently.
5. Mayor Tyier con~aented that it was his understandfn~ that the people
of Saratoga were not interested in stopping pro~.ress nor in develop-
inF the hills south~.~st of Saratoga, but that they ~.~ere interested
that they be developed properly, and that during the 12 years since
incorporation, the people had spoken' for even tighter controls than
the City had imposed, and had expressed a desire for City control
over future hillside area develoOments, and in the quality of such
development.
In reference to an earlier comment from the audience regarding County
City relations, Mr. Tyler said that there had been several instances
wher~ the County .had overruled the City's recommendations.
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6, Councilsnan D~,~yer said that a key Point Y.ms the quality of development
and that his inquired, reEardin~ the Uic!'.iup development shoY~ad that
it was attractive, hut that the large lots Y,yere bein.~ built on
slo~,ly, over a lon~ period of ti~e, with some problems bain~ le[t
~o be dealt with by the next %eneration.
H. ~SOL~ION NO. 454 - ~SOLUT!ON REOUESTI}]G LOCAL AGENCY FO~TIOM
CO~,~{ISSION TO CO~ITION APPP. OVAL OF COU~Y SANITATION DISTRICT NO. 4
Res. 454 A~TION 1968-5 UPON CO~IPLETION OF A~!~TION OF THE ~INCORPO~TED
AR~ =N THE .'TE~[T~RY TO T~ CITY OF SA~TOGA.
City Administrator Huff stated that he had prepared altemate resolutions
in anticipation of pessible action by the Council, and that if he under-
stood the consensus of the Council, Resolution No. 454 was ready for
consideration.
Councilman S~th moved adopti~ of Resolution No. 454, and Councilman
Robb{ns seconded the motion which was adopted unanimously..
The Mayor requested PIt. Huff to present the resolution to ~FCO at its
meetin~ of October first, for discussion ~d decision.
III. ~T~IVE ~ORGANfZATIONS:,[OR ,COUNt. T~NSf[
Mayor Tyler ~referred ~o the interim study report of Santa Clara COunty
Transportati~ ~Planning study which included two alternates.
After discussion of the two proposals to 'fom ~ C6Unty t~ansit d~triC~, the
~t. Co~cil at~e~tea Mr. Shook in repre~entin~ Sarato~ a~ th~
O~gan. meeting to indidate ~h~t the City favored f0m~ti~df.~
for
CoUnty County Charter ~endme~t rather ~h~ u~d~ a ~istr~St ~&med throuR~ t~e
Transit State Legislature.
IV. ~MINIST~TIVE ~TTERS
A. }fayor
I.C.C.. 1. Mr. Tyler said that he ~d Mr. Huff would attend
Mtg. Gilroy.on October 3, 1968.
N~A 2. In reference to the NASA invitation to attend the l~th Anniversary
'~ of the Sp~ce ProRr~ at Ames Laboratory, ~r. Sandsrs. Mr. ~o~.~,
P~ogr~
~ r~r. D~,~er and ~r.. Muff said they would attend~
Prop.9 3. Mr. Tyler read the letter from the County Board of Supe~isors re
Discussion the county-x.yide meetin~ at the Fair Grounds on October 8, 19~8 for
discussion of Proposition 9.
~n. Plan 4. The Mayor directed that some possible oversi~hts in the General Plan
add'~. for specific zonin~s for such se~ice organizations as plumbinF and
Zohes electrical services be referred to the Plannin~ Co~ission for study
and reco~endation.
5. Referrin~ to the ~ountz'of time bei~sDent by the Plannin~
Use Pemits in cot~u~t!m~ FuDIlC ~earin~s on requests for use pcmits by nursery
Study schools, rest homes and ~imil~r ~-aps for lo~tion of their estab-
lishments in R-1 zones, the Mayor directed this problem also to the
Plannin% Commission for study and review.
B.~ FINANCE
None
C. COt~NCIL CO~.~ITTEES Ai~ REPORTS
None
D. DEPAR~ ~ADS AI~ OFFICERS
Loitering 1. The City Attomey~s letter concemin~ the ~u,~stion of an ordinance
Ordinance on street loiterin~ ~as referred to tbs Public !~Yelfare Co~fttae.
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SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL MINUTES - Cone. Sept, 30, 1968
V. CO~.~JNICA~IOMS
A. !,Iritten
The letter from Mr. Gary B. Cla~%~120665 Lomtta, Saratoga favorin~
the possible annexation ofki!lside areas by the City ~qas~ead.
B. O~al
None
VI. ADJOUR~4ENT
The T{ayor expressed thanks to ~[rs. Stark and }{rs. Parker of the Good
Government Group ef Saratoga for se~;ing coffee.
Mr. Robblns moved~ and Mr. Smith seconded that the meettn~ be ad]ourned~
and the motion uarried.. The meetin~ ended at 9:55 P. ~.
Respectfully submitted,
J. '~ HUFF, CITY
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