Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-21-1995 City Council Minutes MINUTES SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL TIME: Tuesday, November 21, 1995 - 6:30 p.m. PLACE: 6:30 - Administration Meeting Room, 13777 Fruitvale Ave.; 7:00 - Senior Day Care Center, 19655 Allendale Ave. TYPE: Adjourned Regular Meeting/Joint Meeting with- Parks and Recreation Commissio~ The meeting was called to order at 6:30 PM by Vice Mayor Moran. 1. Roll Call Council Members Present: Mayor. Jacobs, Vice Mayor Moran, Councilmembers Burger, Tucker and Wolfe Staff Present: City Manager Peacock 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 17, 1995, and that the notice of adjournment from the November 15, 1995, Council meeting was properly posted on November 16, 1995. 3, Interviews with Applicants for Parks and Recreation COmm~SSiOn Interviews were held with applicants Opatrny and Whitney. The City Council then proceeded to the Adult Day Care Center to conduct the balance of the meeting. 4. Joint Meeting with Parks and Recreation Commission Commissioners Present: Chairperson Clark and Commissioners Crotty, Dutra, Miller, Swan and Weiner. Staff Present: Public Works Director Perlin, Recreation Director Pisani and Parks and Buildings Superintendent Rizzo. A. Discussion of Parameters for Focus Groups on FUture Parks and Recreation Facility Development Mayor Jacobs introduced the topic of creating a focus group process to develop a completion plan for the parks. system and as guidance for the focus groups. It is his view that the groups are to be advisory tothe City Council, not to design the system for the City.. The purpose of having the focus groups is to engage people in the process not to just have them show up at a public hearing on proposed plans. Councilmember Tucker added that part of the effort should be to explore use of school facilities more extensively as a part of fulfilling the park and recreation needs of the community as well as determining the need for added facilities at existing park sites, both developed and underdeveloped. Councilmember Wolfe added that he feels the Commission has identified the needs in the work it has done. He views the focus groups as providing wide ranging community input as to solutions to fulfill the needs. Commissioner Miller suggested that an alternative would be to form task forces for particular interests such as soccer, an improved community center, more picnic areas, etc., and to have representatives on the task groups from various areas of the City. It was agreed that, regardless of the method used, the focus should be on defining the needs of the system on a city-wide basis. Councilmember Tucker indicated that she would like to have the needs of the system quantified and projected both five and ten years into the future. Commissioner Weiner commented that she felt the Commission doesn't have the ability to take demographic changes and translate them into the need for added facilities; that the Commission would need outside help to do that. City CoUncil Minutes 2 Novem])er 21, 1995 It was generally agreed that whatever process is ultimately followed should be under the direction of the Commission. It was the consensus that the process should include involvement from residents of various neighborhoods, from user groups, from the schools, and from members of the City's Finance Advisory Committee. It was also agreed that some political decisions needed to be made first to set parameters for the work of the group, and that perhaps one overall task force would be the preferred method and process. It was agreed to have another joint meeting in February at an adjourned session of the City Council. In the interim the City Council will prepare an overall policy direction for the task force. and the Commission, at its next regular meeting, will develop a detailed wants and needs list. The policy direction statement and the needs list will be shared with each group before the next joint meeting. City Council requested staff to update the facilities inventory to include West Valley College, Marshall Lane School, the YMCA, the Quito/Pollard Road property, and facilities available through the Mid- Peninsula Open Space District. 5. Other Items A. Resolution Relating to Freeway Noise It was moved by Councilmember Burger, seconded by Councilmember Wolfe, and passed 5-0, to adopta Resolution 95-52 Relating to Freeway Noise to be sent to members of the Congress of the United States who represent the City of Saratoga. During discussion on this item it was agreed that a separate resoluti0n was needed which would be directed to the members of the State Legislature representing Saratoga. It was moved by Councilmember Wolfe, seconded by Councilmember Tucker, and passed 5-0, to adopt a Resolution 95T53 Relating to Freeway Noise to be sent to members of the State Legislature who represent the City of Saratoga. B. wireless CommUnication Systems Siting Policy The City Council reviewed the report of the City Manager regarding the current policies of the City as contained in the City Code, the status of current applications in the City and the actions of surrounding cities relatingto this matter and the ordinances from several other jurisdictions relating to antennas and to cellular antenna facilities, and the various policy questions which needed to be addressed in determining future action by the City regarding the placement of future cellular antenna monopole structures in the City. After extended discussion the City Council, by consensus, agreed tO refer this matter to the Planning Commission tO develop a recommended policy and appropriate ordinance revision as necessary to effectuate such a policy. C. Self-Evaluation of 11/15/95 Meeting The City Council felt that it was both a good practice for the items to be covered at the next adjourned session to be listed on the regular meeting agenda and for the Mayor to continue to read those items out for the benefit of the community at large. The members of the City Council expressed its appreciation to the Mayor for reading the items out on the agenda. D. Agency Assignment Reports Councilmember Wolfe reported on his attendance at the Indian Business Dinner and that the Saratoga Business Development Council will be considering going to an Ad Hoc subcommittee structure. Vice Mayor Moran reported that she is seeking endorsement from the Cities Association for a seat on the Air Quality Management District Board and requests the Mayor to forward a letter endorsing her candidacy. She indicated that in a discussion with Mary Gardener, Superintendent of the Saratoga Union School District, the possible use City Council Minutes 3 November 21, 1995 of vacant commercial 'buildings as a teen gathering place was put forward as an idea to consider, since there are no special businesses in Saratoga which cater to teens. She requested that this idea be brought to the attention of the Saratoga Business Development Council for consideration. Councilmember Tucker announced that the Annual Cities Association Meeting will be at the Hayes Mansion on December 14th and that all members of the City Council are encouraged to attend. As part of the program that evening Beverly Tucker of the City staff will be presenting elements of Saratoga's youth programs. She reported her attendance at the California Association of Sanitation Agencies conference where one main topic of discussion was the Clean Water Act and the effort by the State Water Resources Board to use Best Management Practices rather than numerical standards as the basis for NPDES permit compliance, an approach which would be of great help to Saratoga and other permittees. She asked staff to contact staff of the Water Resources Board to indicate Saratoga's endorsement of such an approach, noting particularly the issues which have created the litigation problems facing the City. Councilmember Burger reported that she attended the Library Conference, the Cupertino City Council meeting where she bade farewell on behalf of the City to the retiring City Council members and welcomed'the newly elected members of that City Council, that she attended the Gateway Charette kickoff meeting (which she felt was a verypositive first step in the process), the monthly meeting of SASCC, and reported on the meeting of the KSAR Board of Directors where the matter of televising Planning Commission meetings starting in March of 1996 was discussed and would be proposed to the City Council in the near future. This resulted in a discussion by the City Council about its feelings regarding such a proposal. The City Council generally endorsed the idea of having only one paid staff and one volunteer broadcast the City Council meetings instead of the current two paid staff members, which would stretch the money received from the cable company to broadcast the meetings, but they were generally not in favor of having the Planning Commission meetings broadcast. Councilmember Burger stated she would carry that message to the KSAR Board at its next meeting. Councilmember Burger also reported on her attendance at the Saratoga Fire DistriCt Fire Station Replacement Task Force meetings, which the Fire District has invited her to attend so the City will be aware of the discussions which are going on. The City Manager noted that the City has different 6ouncilmembers assigned to two committees which interface with the Santa Clara Valley Water District and suggests that the same person be assigned as representatives to both groups. It was agreed by the City Council to have Councilmember Tucker assigned to the Water Commission as well as the Flood Control Advisory Board and that Councilmember Wolfe be assigned as the alternate to the Water Commission. 6. Discussion of Parks and Recreation Commissioner Appointment It was moved by Councilmember Wolfe, seconded by Councilmember Burger and passed 3-2, with Vice Mayor Moran and Councilmember Tucker voting NO, to appoint Kay Whitney to the unexpired term on the Parks and Recreation Commission. 7. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 9:55 PM. Respectfully submitted, ~r~eac°ck