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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-11-1994 City Council Minutes MINUTES SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL TIME: Tuesday, January 11, 1994 - 7:30 p.m. PLACE: City Hall Administration Meeting Room, 1377' Fruitvale Ave. TYPE: Adjourned Regular Meeting/Jr. Meeting wi~h Library Commission 1. Roll Call Co s The meeting was called to order at 7:35 p.m. uncilmember Co n Burger, Kohler, Monia and Mayor Tucker were present; u cllmember Anderson was absent (arrived when noted below). 2. Report of City Clerk on Posting of Agenda Pursuant to Government Code 54954.2, the agenda for t]lis meeting' was properly posted on January 7. The notice of adjournment from the January 5 Council meeting was properly posted on Ianuary 6. ADDED TO AGENDA: The Council considered taking up a Request for Recc~sideration (Ebrahimoun) - see 1/10/94 letter from Allan R. Saxe. 'he Council read the letter. Councilmember Anderson arrived at 7:40 p.m. The denial-was without prejudice so the applicant In reapply without paying full fees. Councilmember Kohler felt that statements by Commissioner Kaplan create a due process problem in his mind. The City Attorney opined that after reviewing the comme]ts he found no violation of due process. Remaining question is ~Ihether her comments, which were contrary to Council traditi n, unduly influenced the vote. . ANDERSON/KOHLER MOVED TO RECONSIDER THE APPEAL. Passet 5-0. 3. Adoption. of Urgegcy Ordinanc? to Establish Weight Limit BURGE O H NANCE. Passed -0. 4. Crossing Guard Funding Get current Public Safety Commission listing of recommended crossing guard locations and current locations filled. 9uestion is whether City should require district schools to provide car pool services in exchange for crossing guard funding as recommended by Anderson. Burger would like to know whether schools now have the oney to pay for their own crossing guards. Councilmember Kohler said schools should come to the City and offer services or facilities in exchange for crossing guards. He doesn't feel requiring car pooling will work. There was consensus to place districts on notice of Ci5y's intent to not continue funding without some consideration in ceturn from the schools. 5. Annual Joint Meeting with Library Commission a. Commission,s Response to December 9 Communit Forum City Council Minutes 2 Januazry 11, 1994 While attendees were supportive, public education is heavily needed to expect that there will be widespread support. b. Changes to the Library's Financial Structure The work of the Task Force 'was reviewed and the tit~ Manager's January 7 memo was discussed. Councilmember Monia supported joining the County but concerned about opponents' zeroing in on. the labor issue, i.e. the added money will not only go to inflate salaries. The unions need to be prepared, in some way, to make some concessions in orde to assure some success for the Community Services Area. Needs to get further information on: 1) Mix of hours, staff, and materials sired and amount of funding needed. 2) Determine needed and desired staffing and cost of same. The commission was asked to follow up on these items n the next couple of months. MONIA/KOHLER MOVED TO APPROVE APPROACH TO CSA AND JPA FN CONCEPT. Passed 5-0. c. Fund-raising Accomplishments and Future Pla~ 'Goals The barbecue raised more than $300. Friends made $2~3,000 last year, giving the City $20,000. Sally. Towse asked the Councilto consider a Monterey County policy to not cut back on public funding because of private [undraising activity for the library. KOHLER/BURGER MOVED TO ADOPT A POLICY AS FOLLOWS: T]~e Saratoga City Council unanimously endorses the principle that finds raised by the Friends of Saratoga Libraries and the Saratog~L Community Library Foundation will be used to strengthen the library by providing materials and services not feasible with existing public funds. The funds raised will not be used to replace public funds. Passed 5-0. d. Increase in Friends of the Library Membershi Membership has now increased from 350 to 797 members. e. Finding Library Commissioners Some nibbles 'from Christmas. f. Will Monte Sereno Pull Out and Join Los Gato Prospect is still tentative at this time. 6. Discussion Item - Should the City pursue options to develop financing to purchase Nelson Gardens property as Dity park? Councilmember Monia recounted prior City attempts to acquire property. Now that new open space element has been a,~opted, the City as committed to pursue acquisition if financing i available for increasing parks and open space owned by the City Issue is finding a means to fund. Feels it is City's job to promote same and seek support from community for long-term funding. Councilmember Anderson feels that the Community Foundat]on wants to sell the property. She feels that City could allow up])er portion to be developed with lower portion being given to City for a park City Council Minutes 3 Januar 11, 1994 to rent to the Community Gardens for $1 a year in e:change for developing and maintaining the park. That way the Cit' could get the land for free with no cost to-maintain. Councilmember Monia agreed this approach should be p rsued, but that still leaves the issue Of getting money for the lohg range to acquire other property as well to further the open spac element's goals and objectives. Issues: 1) How does City implement open space element? 2) What is the plan for implementation? 3) How should it be financed and should the que: zion be on the ballot? If so, when? MONIA/ANDERSON MOVED TO DIRECT STAFF, PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION, AND FINANCE COMMITTEE TO DEVELOP A PLAN T( IMPLEMENT THE OPEN SPACE ELEMENT, DEFINE FINANCING OPPORTUNITIE~ AND SET A PRIORITY LIST OF LAND AND PROJECTS TO FINANCE. Passed 5-0. BURGER/ANDERSON MOVED TO ASK STAFF TO PREPARE A SUGGE~;TED POLICY WHICH DIRECTS STAFF TO PURSUE OPTIONS FOR OPEN SPACE aCQUISITION THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS. Passed 5-0. Councilmember Burger asked about Aloha and Saratoga-Lo~ Gatos Road Which was before the Public Safety Commission. They t~ook it off agenda. The City Manager is to tell them to put it b~ck on, per Council directive. Mayor Tucker asked the staff to put regional governance on the agenda to discuss taking a position. Supply Council with memo from Councilmember Anderson. 7. Closed Session on City Manager Evaluation The Council went into closed session at 10:45 p.m. 8. Adjournment Respectfully submitted, Harry R. City Clerk