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Home My WebLink About11-14-1990 City Council Minutes MINUTES SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL TIME: Wednesday, November 14, 1990 - 7:30 p.m. PLACE: Civic Theater, 13777 Fruitvale Avenue TYPE= Regular Adjourned Meeting/Joint Meeting with West Valley-Mission Community College District Board 1. Roll Call The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by West Valley- Mission.Community College District Board President Marlens Q. Duffin.- Saratoga City Council members presentwere Karen Anderson, Marty Clevenger, and Mayor Stutzman. Mr. Harry Peacock, Saratoga City Manager; Ms. Joan Pisani, Recreation Director; and Mr. Todd Argow, Public Services Director were also present'. West Valley-Mission Community College District Board members present were President Marlens Duffin, Vice P~esident Joy Atkins, Trustees Norman Abrahams, Patricia Mahan, Nancy Rucker, Phil Stokes, and Student Trustees Sharon Lakin and Dawn May-Gilson. Also present were Dr. Gustavo Mellander, Chancellor; Dr. Stephen Penn, Vice Chancellor of Business Services; Dr. Leo Chavez, President of West Valley College; and Ms. Joan Reitz, Director of Facilities. 2. Saratoga Police Department Mr. Peacock indicated that in order tO meet the City of Saratoga's needs, approximately 40 security personnel would have to be employed, 16 of whom woulD be civilians. He said Councilman V±c Monia, who was not present at the meeting, would like facts and figures to support the rationale that the City and District security forces should be combined. Dr. Penn agreed to furnish that information. Trustee Abrahams said that, if the City is interested in pursuing this possibility, he would like a fact-finding committee of two to three individuals formed. 3. Public Access Television Mr. Argow said the City has been talking with South Bay Cable, which is considering donating additional funds to obtain an automated system. If successful, City Council and Planning Commission meetings should be on the air in early spring. This item was presented as an update, as Saratoga has loaned audio/visual equipment to West Valley College and would like to borrow it when the meetings are held. The City also has an urgent need for volunteers to man the equipment and hoped that West Valley students and/or instructors might be available. Mr. Argow reported that Saratoga television station KSAR is considered a PEG station (Public access, Educational access, and Governmental access). Recent changes in federal law defining public access have been made. Because of case law and federal law, public access means anybody can put anything s/he desires on the air. If the show is previewed prior to the showing, the station becomes liable for the content of the show. In order to not be liable, the station now must have the producer (who assumes liability) of the show sign a waiver in the presence of 2-3 witnesses. Politically, this puts the City in a very vulnerable position. Councilwoman Anderson suggested that strong, aggressive letters on this subject be sent to local legislators. One of the alternatives being considered by the City is to discontinue the public access portion of KSAR and air only educational and governmental issues. City Council Minutes November 14,'1990 Trustee Mahan strongly objected to the restriction of an Individual's right to freedom of speech and said she would not support such a position. If an individual objects to the content of a program, s/he has the right to turn off the television or change channels. 4. Use of College Facilities President Chavez said.the college is Very_ interested in holding its homecoming, and possibly three or four other, football games on the West Valley campus. He asked if the District and City staffs could look into what the restrictions are and what must be done. Mr. Peacock said he would have the City Attorney look into this and would provide a copy of his response to Dr. Penn. Ms. Pisani said there is a desperate need by the City for facilities in which to conduct community events such as softball games, soccer games, tennis, etc. She has been in contact with Ms. Barbara Jarvis at the District during the past, but the college facilities have been filled to capacity. The greatest need is during the summer months when there are longer daylight hours. She wondered whether it would be possible that the City might use the campus facilities from 6 p.m. until about 8 p.m~; and, if the facilities were available, whether it would be possible to use them for free or at a reduced fee. Councilwoman Anderson suggested that, in exchange for the use of the tennis courts, the. City might consider paying for half of the needed resurfacing of the courts. President Chavez said he would investigate and report back to the City in response to their questions. In the spirit of cooperation between the City and the District, he felt something could be worked out. 5. Congestion Management Plans and A~r Quality Standards Mr. Peacock reported that major county-wide plans wil-1 be presented in the next seven or eight months to reduce traffic in this area. It is highly likely that the college will be required to come up with a plan to reduce the number of vehicle miles driven by people using the colleqe. councilwoman Anderson said that, in order to reduce the number of people driving into the area, the County will'make available bus passes in the school's registration packets that will be competitive withthe parking fees. The county is also looking into improving bus services in the area. Councilwoman Clevenger said plans are also afoot to make it undesirable for less than two people to drive in a car and that heavy parking penalties will be imposed upon those not carpooling. President Chavez indicated that the college has been aware of this possibility for several months and that several options are being considered, including increased parking fees, purchasing vans, etc. Trustee Mahan expressed concern over possible abridgement of the right of students to arrive at the educational facility through any.means of their choosing. 6. Use of West Valley College Campus i'n March 1991 Mr. Argow said that four westside cities (Saratoga, Los Gates, Monte Serene and Santa Clara) alternate annually in conducting a Household Hazardous Waste Event. Saratoga will host the next event in March, 1991, and requested permission to use the West Valley College c'!~,F':~· 9r, Penn said the District had very Containment, cleanup, traffic control, liability. Mr. Argow said the City hires an independent contractor who guarantees that any materials accepted will be removed from the site; any spills will be immediately cleaned up; that every precaution is taken to assure that nothing will spill or contaminate the premises. The City assumes full liability and pays for the event out of the City coffers there is nO charge to those contributing materials for disposal. Dr. Penn said he would study the issue and report back to the City in the near future. Mr. Peacock urged that he report back soon, as time was of the essence in planning the affair and hiring the contractor. Page - 2 City Council Minutes November 14,° 1990 7. Community Relations President Duffin inquired whether the City had received any negative comments concerning the college that the District should be aware of. There were none. S. Oral Comunioations from the Public on Items not on the agenda - None. 9. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 9:05 p.m. (as to the Saratoga City CounCil, the meeting was adjourned to November 20 at 7:30 p.m.). Respectfully submitted, Harry R. Peacock City Clerk Page - 3