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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-10-1992 City Council Minutes MINUTES SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL TIME: Tuesday, March10, 1992 - 8:00 p.m. PLACE= Senior Day Care Room, Community Center, 19655 Allendale Ave. TYPE: Adjourned Regular Meeting/Joint Meeting with Public Safety Commission 1. Roll Call Councilmembers Anderson, Monia, and Stutzman were present~ Councilmember Clevenger and Mayor Kohler were absent. Public Safety Commissioners Borah, Crane, Dawson, Dowdy, Johnson, O'Rorke, and Swanson were present. Staff Members present: City Manager Peacock, City Attorney Riback, Assistant to the City Manager King. 2. Report of City Clerk on Posting of Agenda The City Manager announced that pursuant to Government Code 54954.2, the agenda for this meeting was properly posted on March 6. The notice of adjournment from the March 4 Council meeting was properly posted on March 5. 3. Joint Meeting Items: A, 1991 Review Commissioner Crane reviewed the work of the Commission over the past year, including: 1) School safety issues at Saratoga and Fruitvale, Saratoga and Herriman, bike paths and walkway upgrading. There was consensus for the Commission to review the policy of allowing parking in bike lane facilities in the City. 2) Update and distribute earthquake and safety brochure. 3) Party problem has improved through community education and cooperation of the Sheriff~s Office. 4) Looking at effectiveness of continuing DUI as number of arrests is down and accidents are decreasing. May be reduced from four days a week to two. 5) Continue working on good relationship between City and fire and police services. Instituted public safety awards for Sheriff, each fire district, and emergency medical service response teams. B. Vandalism (Halloween~ Against Public Officials~ Generally) The aftermath of the Halloween episode is that the Sheriff has quietly made a number of arrests. The community committee is looking at creating opportunities for alternative activities for children at Halloween. There is a perception that major portions of the community do not know either the Public Safety Commission or YOuth Commission exists. Efforts will be made to get more commission news in the Saratoga News Commission Actions column. C. Charter Review Commissioner Borah indicated that the charter was last revised in 1984, and its role has evolved in the past eight years. Things to look at: time of term expiration--maybe should be staggered more~ role in reviewing work of sheriff and fire and now emergency medical response; emergency preparedness function~ traffic safety and Route 85 construction~ animal control. Commission will review this over the next year. ~ity Council ~inutes D. Commission Outreach Commissioner Dowdy indicated that the Commission is inviting pers from the various public safety services to make presentations on t role in public safety service delivery. The Commission is a planning to meet jointly with other commissions to discuss perspectiv, on mutual problems and programs, especially the Youth Commission an, the Planning Commission. Issues are to include gating of drives and private streets, fire safe_ landscaping, etc. E. Bmergency Preparedness Commissioner O~Rorke reviewed the history of the Commission~s involvement in emergency preparedness since 1984. He described activity over the past year and what the Commission~s role should be in the future. The next major effort is to create a system whereby citizens can communicate to emergency services when telephones and/or power is unavailable. F. Public Safety Issues Commissioner Swanson covered miscellaneous issues including conditions at the Paul Masson Winery and the City policy on financing crossing guards. There is a request from Sacred Heart School that a guard be funded at the crossing on Saratoga Avenue. SWANSON/BORAH MOVED TO RECOMMEND FUNDING FOR SACRED HEART SCHOOL. .Passed 7-0. This matter is to be placed On the Council agenda for March 18, 1992. Fire protection improvement needs to be addressed. Roofing standards, access, brush clearance, tree standards, vegetation. G. Neighborhood Watch Commissioner Dawson related that statistics continue to show that Neighborhood Watch areas continue to have a lower crime rate. The Sheriff has started a new program of informing burglary victims about Neighborhood Watch. Unfortunately, the number of calls for neighborhood Watch information is down. Increased community awareness needs to be emphasized. H. Annual Public Safety Picnic - set for June 6. I. councilmember Priorities for the Commission to consider 1) Anderson - neighborhood organization for emergency response and self help in disaster situation. Schools and sidewalk locations. 2) Monia - dealing with the opening of Route 85 - tryto make people more aware of where to look for emergency information help - dealing with residents who don~t speak English. 3) Stutzman - Commission doing a great job. If they can accomplish all they have set out, he will be immensely pleased. 4. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 10:05 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Harry R. Pe City Clerk