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Home My WebLink About03-08-1991 City Council Minutes MINUTES SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL TIME: Friday, March 8, 1991 - 4:00 p.m. (and continued to March 9 at 8:30 aom.) PLACE: Saratoga Community Center, 19655 Allendale Avenue TYPE: Adjourned Regular Meeting The meeting was called to order at 4:00 p.m. Councilmembers Anderson, Clevenger, Kohler, Monia and Mayor Stutzman were present. 1. Spend more Community Servi~e Office resources on Emergency Preparedness to establish zone and area self help ro_q_~_q~p_~ in case of a disaster. This could mean makinq the Emerqency Preparedness Coordinator role a full time job, reducinq code enforcement resources unless added staff is provided. Emergency Preparedness should not be expanded. Public Safety Committee likes emergency preparedness program we have now--would support 60% for emergency prep. Need to get every neighborhood involved. Continued emphasis on City staff involvement in emergency prep. Conclusion: SuPPort present staffing. Concern about how complaints are handled. Discussion of complaints in Saratoga. If system "breaks down," public should contact Council. 2. Expand the size of the Enqineerinq Department staff b_j[ one person. See Item No. 11. " 3. Review Planninq Commission proposed work proqram and set priorities and resource levels needed to accomplish. Concern over amount of time Planning Director spends with public--although he is good at it. Some members of public come back again and again. Problem--If Steve stops working with public, they will go to Council. Question--Which items listed are priority? LIST PRIORITIZATION ( #1, 2 or 3_/ Heritage Inventory - 3 Mit. Monitoring Program - 1 Housing Element - 3 Circulation Element - 1 Sphere of Influence - 1 Tree Preservation - 2 Open Space Policy - 1 Oddfellows Housing - 1 Residential Design Review - 1 Cocciardi Restoration - 1 Nolse Ordinance - 2 Villas Masson - 1 R.V. Ordinance 3 (need alternatives such as RV parking lots) San Marcos }{eights 1 Mountain Winery - 1 Sign Ordinance 3 (State law issue) Residential Lighting Ordinance - 3 Air Quality - 3 Geol. & Seismic Study - 3 (just a data base) Fence & Soundwall - 3 Xeriscape - 0 ( Don ' t prepare ordinance; use in Design Review) Plan. Procedures 1 Design Review Process - 1 Village Parking Stnd. - 2 4. Add a half-time person to the Maintenance Department to maintain the City's vehicle fleet. No action - Can't justify. Policy Development Conference Notes Page 2 March 8-9, 1991 5A. Should the City of Saratoga consider adopting an ordinance modifying Ordinance No. 71.61E pertaining to conservation of water in response t__o the current five year consecutive drought? Issue: Wait for State/District directorion or adopt ordinance now? Conclusion: Wait for District allocations, except for: 1) Readopt requirement of restaurant water only on request. 2) Consistency with other cities in so far as alloca- tions. 5B. Mow should the City prioritize its water use in order to meet the mandatory directives? 1) Wait for mandatory allocations. 2) If greater water rationing than we expect, imple- ment options listed. 5C. Should the City retain the services of an Irrigation Con- sultant to develop a__n Irrigation System Master Plan for parks, medians, parkways and landscape facilities? Plan to place in Budget. 5D. Should the City Council approve the budget request to re- classify an existing parks maintenance division position from a Parks Maintenance Worker II to Irrigation Specialist? Budget request should be approved. 6. Determine whether the current level of maintenance for City~ owned-trees and the Meritage Orchard is adequate or needs to b__e expanded and the cost to do so. Expand per recommended action. 7. If the City were to agree to increase library hours on Sundays and weekdays, how could such be accomplished and what would it cost? Does the need exist? Maintain same funding. Consider in future alternative use of Village Library building. Keep open Thursday evenings by closing another night. 8o Approve a plan for use and programinq the Warner Hutton House. Go with recommendation. Include video games for revenue. Try to recover costs through fees, member- ships, etc., structure that way. 9. Review and approve proposals to revise the budget organiza- tion to create cost centers for community events and dis- plays and for environmental programs Provides accountability/efficiency. Approved. 10. Re-examine the City's role and responsibility regarding operation of the community access TV station as the City prepares for live broadcast of meetings. Policy Development Conference Notes Page 3 March 8-9, 1991 --Franchise renewable in 1993. --Negotiate additional equipment/facilities in 1993. --CATV Foundation needs professional direction. --Equipping Council Chambers will help City/CATV Foundation relations. --Appoint City Manager to Foundation Board. Conclusions: 1) Mire technical director - two persons. 2) Obtain maintenance contract. 3) Broadcast regular Council meetings ONLY at the outset. 4)Drop publication of agendas in Mercury News. Find other posting locations in community. 5)Have Recreation Director coordinate scheduling and lighting needs. 11. Develop ~ policy framework for monitoring construction of the freeway pro~ects through Saratoqa. Mire contract inspector to monitor projects. --Can respond to complaints of public --Follow-up important to public perception --Only last during construction period --Concern about loyalty transfer --Good public relations How to pay for contract inspector. Increase: --Grading Permit Fees --Geol/Geot. Review Fees --Encroachment Permits Fees Base fees on cost+ basis. 12. Review the possible need for increasing the level of staff training and the costs thereof to respond to new State mandates on disabled employee accommodation, accident pre- vention, records management, and increasing complexity o__f computer applications. Accept staff recommendation. 13. Should parks staff be increased to provide services to parks on weekends? --One year premature. --Drought will prevent new landscape. --Require in-depth analysis of costs for various parks. 14. Review proposal for need to create pre-school program as a part of the City's programs and how such would b__e implement- ed. --No demonstrated need. ~--No space. 15. Should the City provide a senior citizen type par course around the Civic Center similar to the one at E1 Quito Park? --No demonstrated need. --Liability issues. 16. What level of discretionary budget exists both in terms of grants and discretionary programs or recoverable revenues which are not currently beinq realized which the City could look to for budget balancing purposes? What should the City's cost recovery policy b__e? Policy Development Conference Notes Page 4 March 8-9, 1991 --Interesting information. --Not legally required expenditures. --Should require annual demonstration of efforts toward self-sufficiency. --Reduce publication of newsletter to 4 times a year. Cost Recovery:' --Household Hazardous Waste - rubbish surcharge. --Mandated program - high cost of disposal identifying, transportation, etc. --No change at this time. 17. What position should the City be takinq in response to proposals for regional governance? 1) What would City like to happen? 2) Worst case analysis--What is City's position? --Question: Do we endorse any aspects of Bay Vision 2020? --Consolidating agencies means consolidating regulatory authority: clean air, transportation, related land use. --Affect on Saratoga? jobs/housing imbalance? --Wait for State to impose, or some form of regional now? CONSENSUS Express City's concerns: 1) Retain local land use control. 2) Retain local control over additional 85 interchanges. 3) Give existinq regulatory agencies opportunity to operate. 4) Local character. 5) Gilroy letter. 6. Elected representatives. Respectfully submitted, Harry R. Pe~coc ~ City Clerk