HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-17-1991 City Council Minutes MINUTES
SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL
TIME: Tuesday, September 17, 1991 - 7:30 p.m.
PLACE: Multi-Purpose Room, Community Center, 19655 Allendale
Ave.
TYPE: Adjourned Regular Meeting/Joint Meeting with Tract 7770
Citizens Investigative Committee
1. Roll Call
Councilmembers Anderson, Clevenger, Monia, Stutzman and Mayor
Kohler were present. Committee members present were Macrae, Kalb,
Caldwell (Ex Officio). Staff members present were City Manager
Peacock, City Attorney Meye[s, City Engineer Perlin, Senior
Building Inspector Oncay, and Planning Director Emslie.
2. Report of City Clerk on Posting of Agenda
The City Clerk reported that pursuant to Government Code 54954.2,
the agenda for this meeting was properly posted on September 13.
The notice of adjournment from the September 10 Council meeting was
properly postedon September 11.
3. Discussion of items of Mutual Interest - Staff Responses to
Recommendations by Task Force (continued from 9/11)
Mr. Monia asked for clarification of the date of Mr. Oncay's visit
to the site, which Mr. Oncay indicated was actually the 7th of
November rather than the 6th of November, as he indicated in his
report on page 9.
Mr. Monia also asked for clarification on page 13 regarding
discussion of when Mr. Oncay talked to the Public Works Inspector
about the illegal grading. Mr. Oncay indicated he went to the site
with the City Manager and Planning Director on the 7th, and the
Public Works Inspector was already on the site. Mr. Oncay saw the
plans (the four-sheet version) when the Public Works Inspector took
them from his vehicle, which was the first time Mr. Oncay had seen
the plans. Later Mr. Oncay requested and received these plans from
the Public Works Inspector.
Referring to page 3 of Mr. Oncay's report, Mr. Monia referred to
the City Manager's memo of November 15, 1989. Mr. Oncay indicated
his reference was that a set of plans had been submitted and the
Council knew that unapproved plans were involved. Mr. Monia stated
that Arjan knew a second set of plans had been submitted in July
of 1989, but the City Manager's report fails to mention that.
Mr. Monia referenced p. 35 of the Committee report and page 11,
item C of Mr. Oncay's report and asked Mr. Oncay to clarify the
reference to the knowledge of the City Attorney. Mr. Monia
referred to the settlement agreement as knowledge of the Borrow
Hill arrangement. Mrs. Clevenger referenced that the committee
suggested that up to three additional lots could be created. Mr.
Oncay indicated that if he had overlooked that particular
reference, then he was in error.
Page 26 of the report states that on June 23, 1989 offsite clearing
and removal of brush "offsite" for Cocciardi on the upper site.
The work was done by a D8 bulldozer. This was unapproved work.
On page 9, Item d, Mr. Oncay questioned that there was evidence
that the work referred to was illegal.
Mrs. Anderson asked the record be corrected concerning what she and
Mrs. Clevenger saw on the site on July 4, 1989.
Mr. Perlin also noted the report should be corrected regarding
reference to a D-8 Cat rather than a D-6 Cat which was actually
used. Mrs. Anderson pointed out that the reference in the
City Council Minutes 2 September 17, 1991
contractor's log is not clear as to whether work was being done
off-site.
Mr. Kalb stated that the intent was to try to establish a timeline
of activity. It was not intended to be absolutely accurate in each'
detail.
Mr. Monia asked about Mr. Oncay's references to unapproved plans
and the committee's misunderstanding of that reference until his
second interview and also referenced the public works inspector's
possession of the plans when he stated that inspectors don't carry
plans to the field.
Mayor Kohler asked about the memo on procedures for inspectors.
Mr. Oncay replied that memo was not approved procedure and Mr.
Oncay had never seen the memo before it appeared in the committee
report and documents.
Mrs. Anderson asked that the references to her and Mrs. Clevenger's
visit on July 4 be corrected. She also asked that Mrs. Clevenger's
November 8 testimony be clarified, removing the implication that
she was telling a different story than others. Mrs. Clevenger
concurred in Mrs. Anderson's comments.
Mrs. Clevenger noted her reference to Don Peterson in her testimony
for the report. Everyone on the Council, including Mr. Peterson,
was outraged. Later Mr. Peterson disqualified himself from voting,
but.at the time the entire Council was outraged.
Mr. Kalb stated that in going over the documents all should not
lose sight of the major issues and problems raised by the report
· of the committee.
Mr. Monia raised the issue of the recent press release from Mrs.
Anderson and Mrs. Clevenger accusing Mr. Monia of charging the
Council majority with a coverup by referring the matter to the
grand jury. The remarks were reported in the paper and attributed
to Mr. Schwartz and Mrs. Clevenger, Mrs. Anderson, and Dr. Stutzman
agreed that the statement was in error.
Mr. Monia asked Mr. Oncay about his involvement in SABRE Corp. and
whether Neil Rauschhuber had also done work for the company, if in
fact Mr. Rauschhuber had sued the company, and whether this fact
might color Mr. Oncay's opinion about Mr. Rauschhuber. Mr. Oncay
replied that he had a good working relationship with Mr.
Rauschhuber and that Mr. Oncay was not involved with the company
when Mr. Rauschhuber did work for the company.
Recommendations
- Refer Item #5 to staff for a policy which guides staff on
applying on ground verification of topographic information.
- #6: a revision to the tree protection ordinance will consider
these items. Planning Commission is currently working on
same. Bonding for tree protection to be required.
- #7: OK
- #8: Insurance as a remedy; staff to develop policy.
- #9: Staff to recommend rating of companies to which City
would approve.
- #10: OK.
- #11: OK.
- #12: OK.
City Council Minutes 3 September 17, 1991
#13: Issue is "no conditional completeness letter." Staff not
to issue-in the future.
#14: OK.
#15: OK.
- #16: Procedures should be put in writing; set as a priority
for Engineering. Come back to Council in a month on how to
proceed.
- #17: OK.
- #18: Winterization policy; write into general plan at
appropriate element.
- #19-20: City Attorney to follow up.
Continued items 21-33 at September 18, 1991, meeting.
4. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Harry R. Peacock
City Clerk