Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-11-1996 City Council Minutes MINUTES SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL TIME: Tuesday, June 11, 1996 - 6:30 p.m. PLACE: City Hall Administration Meeting Room, 13777 Fruitvale Ave. TYPE: Adjourned Regular Meeting/Joint Meeting with Heritage Preservation Commission 6:30 - Closed session for the purpose of: CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL-ANTICIPATED LITIGATION Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to subdivision {b) of Section 54956.9 in one case. Mayor Jacobs called the meeting to order at 7:43 PM. 1. Roll Call Councilmember Present: Mayor Jacobs, Vice Mayor Moran, Councilmembers Burger, Tucker and Wolfe. Commissioners Present: Peepari, Dutro, King, Wyman, and Peck. Staff Present: City Manager Peacock, Associate Planner White. 2. Report of City Clerk on Posting of Agenda The City Clerk reports that pursuant to Government Code 54954.2, the agenda for this meeting was properly posted on June 7. The notice of adjournment from the June 5 Council meeting was properly posted on June 6. JOINT MEETING ITEMS: 3. Preservation Ordinance Sufficiency and scope Commission Chair Wyman distributed ordinances from several other jurisdictions and briefly discussed their contents. The newest version of such ordinances adds a value rating scale which specifies the level of review for projects proposed which would affect historically designated properties or properties identified as historic resources in a community (see the Monte Sereno ordinance for an example of this approach). The Commission also discussed the use of the Mills Act which is similar to the Williamson Act and provides a break in property taxes for residential properties which carry historic designations. It was agreed that the provisions of the Act are to be forwarded to the owners of property on the City's historic inventory and to the realty community. It was agreed that the Commission study the ordinances which have been acquired with an eye toward revising the Saratoga ordinance accordingly. 4. Draft Development Review Policy The Commission presented its proposed draft development review policy and recommends that the City Council move to adopt the draft policy as presented. It is moved by Vice Mayor Moran, seconded by Councilmember Burger and approved 5-0 to adopt the proposed draft policy. 5. CEQA as it relates to Historic Preservation Commission Chair Wyman reports that provisions were amended into the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines in 1992 relative to considering historic preservation in performing environmental reviews. Accordingly a local evaluation procedure is needed which implements these provisions. This has been done by the City staff and the document before the City Council sets forth the evaluation procedures to be used in Saratoga. The City Council, by consensus, notes and files the local evaluation procedure. A discussion ensues regarding the possibility of creating a plaque City Council Minutes 2 June 11, 1996 program for Saratoga which would identify locations of historically significant events in Saratoga. The City Council encourages the Commission to pursue such a program. 6. Commission Term Limits It is noted by all concerned that the City's term limit policy creates a special challenge in regards to Heritage Preservation Commission members regarding specific areas of expertise which need to be available to the Commission in terms of either members or consulting resources in order for the Commission to retain its certification through the State. Commission Chair Wyman also indicates the Commission is concerned about the decomposed granite walkways at the Warner Hutton House and the problem of using them in inclement weather. The Commission proposes to create a "buy a brick" program to replace the paths with brick paths as a 40th Anniversary project. The Commission also indicates it will investigate the availability of ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) funds to help finance such a project. It is proposed to sell the bricks for $75 each and allow the purchaser to place an inscription on each brick purchased. OTHER ITEMS: 7. Renew agreement with CbRmber Of Commerce through June 30, 1998 Members of the City Council expressed their disappointment that the letter received from the Chamber of Commerce was not more definitive as to the actions to be undertaken in fulfillment of the obligations under the contract. It is moved by Vice Mayor Moran, seconded by Councilmember Tucker to continue this matter to the meeting of July 9th, to allow the Chamber of Commerce to clarify its intentions in carrying out the provisions of the proposed agreement. The motion passes 5-0. 8. Naming of West Valley Freeway Mayor Jacobs indicates that this matter is no longer at issue and it is removed from the agenda. 9. Request for City Participation in County-wide Domestic Violence Protective Order Registry (POR) by county Board of Supervisors. City Manager Peacock reports on the information he has been able to gather since this request was received by the Mayor at the end of May. Councilmembers question using population as the basis for sharing costs as opposed to domestic violence arrests. The members of the Council indicate they believe this is a good idea in terms of concept, even though it is a another State mandate, but see no need to pay more for this service since the functions are already being performed for Saratoga under its contract with the Sheriff and overall cost to all police agencies should decline based upon economies of scale. It was moved by Vice Mayor Moran, seconded by Councilmember Tucker, and passed 5-0 to notify the County as to the position of Saratoga as far as agreeing to share the cost. 11. Agency Assignment Reports Councilmember Wolfe reports on the latest meeting of the SBDC. This leads to a discussion of the forming of the Business Improvement District. Councilmember Wolfe indicates he needs to meet with the staff to develop a proposal as to how to proceed. While he feels there would not be a big protest if the City chooses to proceed, it is important to build a core group of advocates within the business community before attempting to proceed. Staff is requested to check on the legality of the banners being used .at the Hubbard & Johnson site where the new subdivision is being constructed. Councilmember Wolfe also indicates he would like to see a minimum of neon signs in the City and also feels part of the sign ordinance review City Council Minutes 3 June 11, 1996 should require that commercial addresses be visible from the street. He notes a conspicuous absence of same on Saratoga/Sunnyvale Road. The City Manager indicates he will review the current regulations regarding same as there is such a requirement regarding residential property. Councilmember Tucker reminds the members of the upcoming workshop with Dr. Heifitz, being sponsored by the Cities Association. She reports the Highway 85 No~se Committee is reviewing the RFQ being finalized by CalTrans. She reports that one of the projects for funding under the upcoming 1/2 cent sales tax increase proposal would be to place a median barrier on the Route 85 Freeway. The Noise Committee asks the City to communicate to the Task Force that the barrier can be an effective noise attenuator if it is designed to be at least 7.5 feet high and is triangular in shape so that reflected noise is directed upward rather than back against the retaining walls and sound walls. The City Council agrees to have a letter sent to the Task Force to notify them of the benefits of having a median barrier installed with such properties. Councilmember Burger reports she is continuing to meet with the Volunteer Task Force working on the evaluation of the volunteer program under the Packard Foundation Grant. The group is working on an overall policy statement, improved recognition of the work of the volunteers, more user friendly paper work for both volunteers and staff, and the development of a video on volunteering with KSAR. Vice Mayor Moran thanks the members of the City staff who attended the dedication of the new Foothill School Playground since no one from the City Council was able to be there. She notes for all concerned that there will be a reception for the exchange students from Muko, at City Hall starting at 10AM on July 31st and asks all members of the Council to mark their calendars to plan to attend. She also reports that there will be a Sister City dinner and reception for a delegation from Muko on the evening of July 8th and that all the members of the Council are invited to attend. The dinner and reception will be at Hakone Gardens. Vice Mayor Moran asks to discuss the status of the Youth Plan and ideas for reopening the Warner Hutton House once school starts in September. The City Manager reports that the survey of youth serving organizations is still being worked on by an intern and should be completed in the near future. He also notes that Saratoga is coordinating countywide efforts to catalogue programs in each of the cities within the County and several have been submitted to date. As for the Warner Hutton House, discussion centers around the idea of challenging the community to raise 1/2 of the money needed with the City agreeing to match the money on a dollar for dollar basis. Vice Mayor Moran reports on the Park Priorities Task Force Community Workshop held last Saturday and attended by more than 65 interested citizens. She indicates that she feels the Recreation and Parks Commission should now recommend to the City Council specific locations for future facilities based on the work of the Task Force and the various focus groups at the workshop. 10. Self-Evaluation of Previous Meeting There was no discussion on this item. 12. Adjournment There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 9:52 PM. Respectfully submitted, Harry R. City Clerk