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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-07-1995 City Council Minutes MINUTES 8AI~ATOGA CITY COUNCIL TIME: Tuesday, November 7, 1995 - 6:30 p.m. PLACE: City Rall Administration Meeting Room, 13777 Fruitvale Ave. TYPE: Adjourned Regular Meeting 1. Roll Call-Members Present: Mayor Jacobs, Vice Mayor Moran, Councilmembers Tucker, Burger and Wolfe 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 November 3, 1995. The notice of adjournment from the November 1, 1995, Council meeting was properly posted on November 3, 1995. 3. closed Bession pursuant to GC 54956.8 fOE a Conference with Labor Negotiator (Rousing Assistance Policy) - 6:30-7:00 Agency negotiator: Harr~ R. Peacock Employee organization: Saratoga Management Employees The City Council adjourned to closed session at 6:30 PM. The City Council reconvened to 6pen session at 7:00 PM. Mayor Jacobs announced that in the closed session the City Council took action to terminate the housing assistance program for department directors from the management employee benefit package. 4. Update on 1995-96 Budget from Finance Advisory Committee based on 6/30/95 Final Results Finance Committee Members Present: Co-chairs Ousley and Low, and Committee members Van Hoesen and Koen. ' The committee presented a summary of the final results of the 1994-95 fiscal year and compared it to the estimates which had been made last May as the basis for budget deliberations. The committee indicated that the results were somewhat better than had been projected. It also noted that the 1st quarter results of operations for 1995-96 were 'favorable but that it was too early to determine whether revenues especially would be greater than budgeted. The committee stressed that it was important to look at the general fund and to distinguish base line revenues and one time revenues which result from major projects like the Greenbriar development. It was agreed that baseline and one time general fund revenue should be calculated for 1996-97 and at that time the City Council could consider options for use of the one time money. Among the options presented were, infrastructure improvement, increasing the general fund .reserve, and early retirement of outstanding debt. The committee recommended that the Council not consider any changes to the budget as a result of the better and projected operations results for 1994-95, as it was too early to tell how all of 1995-96 would turn out. This matter could be looked at the close of the 2nd quarterof the year. Items for the Committeeto work on over the next few months included preparing an analysis of 2nd quarter results, looking at the financial aspects of the privatization work being done by the staff, as a stakeholder, to prepare systems requirements it would like to see included in the finance director's RFP for a newfinancial/accounting program to replace the existing system, continue to work with the director to revise and .standardize the format of the monthly and quarterly financial report documents provided to'the City Council. The Committee and the City Council also discussed the proposal by the Finance Director to set up an agency fund for refundable deposits to separately account for such items as the large deposit by Greenbriar which goes to the Traffic Authority. Council authorized the establishment of such an agency fund and authorized the necessary transfer of funds from the general fund to the agency fund which represents the amount deposited by Greenbriar and now due to the Traffic Authority in the amount of $229,000. 5. covered Bridge for Pierce Road City Council Minutes 2 November 7, 1995 Public Works Director Perlin presented overheads of various covered bridge designs as possible treatment for the Pierce Road bridge which is now under construction. After discussion the City Council authorized Mr. Perlin to proceed to apply for a federal grant to fund the construction of a cover for the bridge. 6. Route 85 Noise Mayor Jacobs and Councilmember Burger left the meeting at this time to attend an adjourned session of the Planning Commission and announced that they would return in approximately one hour. Joan Hershkowitz expressed her concern that the Mayor and Councilmember Burger had left the meeting so that a full City Council would not be present to discuss the issue of freeway noise. Vice Mayor Moran expressed her regret that they had to leave to honor a previous commitment of long standing and asked that the Freeway Noise Committee determine whether to request a continuance of the meeting to perhaps December 12th or whether the members wished to proceed with the remaining three Councilmembers being present. Dr. John Grebenkemper, 19494 Miller Court, stated that he would like to make his presentation on the research he has done on the noise issue at this time. He proceeded to do so indicating that he had done some research and modeling of freeway/soundwall noise with and without sound absorbing treatment. Refraction occurs on cool nights and bends the ' sound plume from the freeway down toward the ground as much as 3/4 of a mile away. He stated that he had written to Assemblyman Cunneen in the spring indicating to him that if the lower half of the retaining walls are covered with sound absorbing treatment the noise plume would be reduced. This letter was forwarded to State Director of Transportation Van Loben Sels who replied on October 25, 1995. Dr.' Grebenkemper also presented twenty year old research on the effects of road material selection on noise and indicated he would be sending this information to Van Loben Sels as well. A discussion ensued amongst the Council members as to whether it would be more appropriate. for the letter to come from the City transmitting Dr. Grebenkemper~s findings, that it be sent to Assemblyman Cunneen and to Director Van Loben Sels and to State Senator Campbell. It was moved by Councilmember Wolfe, seconded by Councilmember Tucker and passed 3-0, to have the City Council Subcommittee on Freeway Noise prepare a draft letter for review and signature of the entire City Council, once Dr. Grebenkemper has completed his findings. Joan Hershkowitz discussed the recommendations contained in the Freeway Noise Committeets letter of October 10, 1995. Gene Golobic, 12336 Terrence Drive, discussed the methodology of sound studies. The original study on the freeway used thirty minute measurements. No variables were considered in terms of temperature, humidity, wind, etc. to adjust the :results for conditions variance. The latest measurements don~t adjust for these variables either. The result is tha~ mitigation didn't address the worst case or even 90% worst case. The result is that noise is a moving target. The measurements at Blue Hills School didn't change between before freeway and after freeway conditions. The conclusion to be drawn at this location is there is no freeway noise, which everyone knows is not true. As a result the City was misled by the results of the noise studies and the effectiveness of mitigation measures. Ms. Hershkowitz indicated that the group feels that there must be an effort mounted to create a test section on the freeway to try out these ideas and she asks the City Council to take the lead. Councilmember Wolfe indicated that he would talk to the current congressional candidates and needs to be armed with the research and the petitions. It was also agreed that a resolution setting forth the City Council position on this issue would be in order and one would be drafted for City Council Minutes 3 November 7, 1995 formal consideration by the City Council. 7. Nonpoint source Pollution Control Program Quarterly Report Mr. Perlin presented the report. There were no comments. S. Self-Evaluations of 10/18 and 11/1 Meetings It was agreed to move the check register approval to the early part of the agenda with the other financial reports. It was agreed to move the staff tables to a more open position on the stage to improve City Council visibility for the audience. Staff was instructed to get a table top lectern for the stage when it is extended rather than moving the existing lectern to the side. It was agreed that the Council would follow the oral communications form more closely and save comments and any instructions to the appropriate place on the agenda. 9. Committee Reports It was noted that there was an error in the current assignments as listed which needs correction. Councilmember Wolfe reported on the Transportation Agency, Hakone Foundation, the Housing and Community Development Council and the Saratoga Business Development Council meetings. Councilmember Burger reported that at the KSAR Board meeting the subject of broadcasting the regular Planning Commission meetings would be discussed. Councilmember Tucker asked the other members of the City Council to get their responses to the ABAG survey on Constitutional revision back in to ABAG as soon as possible. She noted that ABAG has now adopted new population and job projections through 2015 and Saratoga is not projected to change. much in either category. She indicated that Saratoga's Youth Programs would be featured at the next Cities Association Meeting on December 15th and all the Council is invited to attend. Councilmembers Burger and Tucker reported on their initial outline for a work plan for the Heritage Tree Committee. The outline will be given to staff to be typed and distributed to the Council. 7. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 10:35 PM. Respectfully submitted, City Clerk