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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-05-1996 City Council Minutes / MINUTES SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL TIME: Saturday, October 5, 1996 - 10:00 a.m. PLACE: Senior Center Large Room, 19655 Allendale Ave. TYPE: Adjourned Regular Meeting/TownHall Meeting 1. Roll Call Mayor Jacobs and Councilmembers Burger, Moran and Wolfe were present. Councilmember Tucker was absent. Staff members present: Acting Cit~ Manager Perlin, Deputy City Clerk Cory Others present: Saratoga Fire District Chief Kraule; Capt. Wilson of the Sheriff's Department; Central Fire District Assistant Chief Lopes 2. Report of City Clerk on Posting of Agenda The Acting City Manager reported that pursuant to Government Code 54954.2, the agenda for this meeting was properly posted on October 4. The notice of adjournment from the October 2 Council meeting was properly posted on October 3. 3. Welcome and Introductions Mayor Jacobs introduced the councilmembers and guests. 6. Captain Wilson Captain Wilson distributes the annual report for Saratoga. Across the board, response times are down. Swing shift traffic unit has been restored. Traffic citations are up from 653 to over 800. In second quarter, juvenile citations are down 1/3 from previous quarter. Discusses issues concerning Saratoga High School. Pleased with high school closing to freshmen and sophomores. Two to three citations are issued daily on Saratoga Avenue and Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road. COPS funding amounts to about $68,000. It is being used for such items as upgrades to radar trailer, night vision equipment, bicycle safety fairs, laser radar gun. The money is spent on equipment and supplies, not personnel, due to funding uncertainties in the future. Capt. Wilson answers questions concerning the relationship with West Valley College, the effects of closing Saratoga High School, and the role of the school resource officer.. Other questions are: What happens at signalized intersections when the power goes out? Does school resource officer get around to all schools? Effect of West Valley College decision to exempt themselves from City ordinances. Accident and citation trends since Route 85 opening. Will the Junior Police Academy be similar to the other academy? Traffic problems at Saratoga Avenue and Scotland. Safety of Frditvale/Saratoga intersection for school children and reduction to one crossing guard. Traffic impacts of E1 Paseo development. Speeding complaints--what does Sheriff perceive of the speeding problem? Problems with running stop signs. The Mayor introduced members of the Public Safety Commission who are present: Biester, Dippel, Fredericks, Hexamer, Lemmon. 7. Chief Kraule Chief Kraule gives an update on the Saratoga Fire District. Fairly quiet past year. Up to full staffing and equipment. EMS calls have leveled off. Committee formed to review facility needs. Four plans are being' considered: 1) Shore up existing facility; 2) Replace in kind; 3) Replace in kind and expand in rear; 4) Replace with combined facility for police and fire. 95 parking spaces are needed. City Council Minutes 2 October 5, 1996 Chief Kraule answers the following questions: Funding plans - the effects of Proposition 218 on the District's ability to raise necessary funds. How well is the District's public education program working with hillside property owners to take measures to prevent another Oakland Hi}ls type fire? 8. Assistant Chief Lopes Asst. Chief Lopes discussed Central Fire District territories and described the history of Fire Prevention Week. There were 750 calls for service last year, 70% of which were medical related. The District expects to take over fire service in Los Altos and Los Altos Hills on December 30. This will expand the mutual aid resources available to Saratoga. Working with Joint Venture Silicon Valley to acquire some of the defense based technology for District use. Asst. Chief Lopes answered a question on the effects of enhanced paramedic program on A.M.R. Lou de Give, Ham Radio Coordinator for the City of Saratoga, reports that antennas were placed on both fire stations, City Hall and all schools. Describes Ham operations during City celebrations and Halloween. Concerns about the Federal Communications Commission selling off Ham frequencies to operators of low orbiting satellites. This would put Hams out of business, and they are fighting it. 11. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 11:25 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Larry I. Perlin Acting City Manager