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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-21-1995 City Council Minutes MINUTES SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL TIME: Tuesday, February 21, 1995 - 6:00 p.m. PLACE: City Hall Administration Meeting Room, 13777 Fruitvale Ave. TYPE: Adjourned Regular Meeting/Joint Meeting with Planning Commission 1. Roll Call The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. Councilmembers Jacobs, Tucker, Moran, and Mayor Burger were present; Councilmember Wolfe arrived during the closed session at 6:07 p.m. City Manager Peacock and City Attorney Riback were also present. 2. Report of City Clerk on Posting of Agenda Pursuant to Government Code 54954.2, the agenda for this meeting was properly posted.on February 17. The notice of adjourrunent from the February 15 Council-meeting was properly posted on February 16. 3. Adjourn to closed session The meeting was adjourned to closed session at 6:03 p.m. PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION Title: City Attorney and CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL-ANTICIPATED LITIGATION Consideration of Initiation of litigation pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 54956.9 in one case. 4. Reconvene to open session and report any actions taken The meeting was reconvened to open session at 7:32 p.m. The same Councilmembers and staff were present. The Mayor reported that no definitive action had been taken. 5. CDBG and Human Services Allocations for 1995-96 The Council continued discussion on award of grants with the hearing closed. Discussion on Teen Counseling - request would be prorata share for Saratoga students served. This totals $10,440. Why did s~aff recommend $1,5007 Staff explained that the recommendation was based upon the application of Council selection criteria. Teen Counseling was not high on elderly, disabled and low income criteria. Councilmember Wolfe suggested increasing senior care and also suggested some support for the S. C. Chamber request for funds for Entrepreneurial Training. Staff indicated that according to the 1990 census, 972 families in Saratoga are in 10w or very low income bracket. All but 76 are senior families. Councilmember Moran asked about true Transit Assist need visa vis getting bid to continue service.. The response was that support is critical for success and allowance to provide adequate service. Councilmember Jacobs suggested $8,000 for Teen Counseling, with reductions for others at various amounts. It is the only program which serves children. Councilmember Tucker suggested $5,000 to the Teen Counseling and reducing Transit Assist to $9,500 and accepting staff recommendations on all other items. Councilmember Moran suggested: Day Care $37,000 City Council Minutes 2 February 21, 1995 Teen Counseling 4,400 Transit Assist 12,600 with the remaining items as in the past year, not as recommended. Councilmember Wolfe suggested: Teen Counseling $7,000 S. C. Cha~3er 2,000 Transit Assist 12,000 Mayor Burger asked about others' feelings toward S. C. Chamber - no interest was expressed. MORAN/TUCKER MOVED THE FOLLOWING AL~)CATIONS: Family Services $1,500 Second Harvest 1,500 LTC 1,575 MATCH 1,500 SASCC Day Care 37,000 SASCC 34,455 TCC 4,400 Transit Assist 12,600 The Mayor is to write a letter to the Transportation Agency supporting the Transit Assist application. The motion passed 5-0. 6. Review of 1995-96 Community Development Work Program Planning Commissioners present: 'Asfour, Murakami, Abshire, Kaplan, Patrick, Caldwell; Siegfried was absent. Staff members present were Community Development Director Curtis and Planner White. Mr. Curtis reviewed the program. Priority 1 items will be done in a year, which allows Priority 2 items to come forward. He noted the Land Use Element-is listed but not prioritized as yet. Perhaps we could start it by .late spring to summer (wait 4-5 months) then could complete it in abodt 8 months. Councilmember Moran suggested that doing informal specific plans is more important'than redoing the Land Use Element. She asked about the Circulation Element and Route 85. Mr. Curtis replied that it is included in the document. Councilmember Tucker asked about Priority 2 projects, especially cellular antennas, and the need to bring them forward because of changing technology. Councilmember Moran asked about parking standards review and whether it fits'with Business Development work. Mr. Curtis said it is a part of it, but not dependent on that work. 7. Discussion of Reversals of Planning Commission Decisions on Appeal to the City Council The question is how seven commissioners can make findings one way and the council reverse them, sometimes unanimously. Mayor Burger suggested the commission should look at the practical issues.and be creative with findings. Councilmember Jacobs said that once he got on the Council his perspective and focus changed. Commissioner Kaplan suggested that part of the problem is the use of a "de novo" hearing as opposed to an appeal on specific issues. The City Attorney responded that as a general law city, a "de novo" hearing is required before the City Council. The Council felt it must retain the broadest discretion possible. The City Council Minutes 3 - February 21, 1995 problem is that the City cannot prevent people from changing their presentation or arguments, only their plans. 8. Design Review Ordinance Revisions Mr. curtis said he would be reporting on this subject at the April 11 meeting. The letter from John DiManto was referred to as an example of restrictions which limit creativity of design. 9. Devel0pment Standards Review/Fencing There is a need to look at definitions of how height is measured, appropriateness of'limiting front yard fence height to three feet. 10. Presentation by Tree Committee of Draft Tree Preservation Ordinance There was a great deal of discussion, but the conclusion is to have a special session for presentation of the Committee report. The tentative date is April 29. 11. Self-Evaluation of February 15 Council Meeting When making a controversial decision, maybe the Council should consider a two-step process in the future as the Council did with CDBG decisions. It may work in the future when an issue is emotional, and people need time to cool off. This cannot be done by rote but more by feel. The issue of coming to closure was also discussed. The conclusion was that the Council is doing a pretty good job. It was suggested that the Council be careful on the use of acronyms. 12. Adjournment It was noted that the Council's negotiator for the Saratoga Employees Association contract, Mary Egan, had requested a meeting with the Council on February 28. The meeting was adjourned to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 28, in the Administration Conference Room, 13V77 Fruitvale Avenue. Respectfully submitted, Harry R. c City Manager