Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-04-1996 City Council Minutes MINUTE8 SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL TIME: Wednesday, December 4, 1996 - 7:30 p.m. PLACE: Civic Theater, 13777 Fruitvale Ave. TYPE: Regular Meeting Mayor Moran introduced Councilmembers, including Stan Bogosian and Jim Shaw, newly-elected Councilmembers who had taken the Oath of Office the night before. 7:30 - Pledge of Allegiance - Led by Lou Thorpe 1. ROLL CALL Councilmembers Present: Mayor Moran, Vice Mayor Wolfe, Councilmembers Shaw, Jacobs and Bogosian. Staff Present: City Manager Peacock, Director of Public Works Perlin and City Attorney Riback. 2. CEREMONIAL ITEMS A. Resolution commending Sami Asfour for service on Plannlng Commission WOLFE/BOGOSIAN TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION. PASSED 5-0. Mayor Moran presented the resolution to Mr. Asfour. 3. REPORT OF CITY CLERK ON POSTING OF A3ENDA City Manager Peacock reported the pursuant to Government Code 54954.2, the agenda for this meeting was properly posted on November 27. 4. COMMUNICATIONS FROM COMMISSIONS AND THE PUBLIC A. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Three members of the Youth Commission, Brian Luskey, Jennifer Cheng and Sarah Adolphson spoke regarding the Warner Hutton House. Council had challenged them to raise half of the funds necessary to keep the House open all year, and they had met that goal. They thanked Council for their support and said that in order to better serve the community, they would like to open the attic as a study center and have received an estimate of $2,500-3,000. Brian stated that last year Council had invited the Youth Commission to meet with them informally, and they were now extending an invitation to Council to meet with them. B. COMMUNICATIONS FROM COMMISSIONS - None. C. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS - None. 5. CONSENT CALENDAR A. Previously-Discussed Items - None. B. New Items 1) Planning Commission Actions, 11/26 -Note and file. 2) Public Safety Commission Minutes, 10/21 - Note and file. 3) Resolution adjusting Budget for Sheriff,s Department Costs - Removed at the request of Councilmember Shaw. 4) Resolution 96-62 on Corporate Representative for Small claims court 5) Award of Contract to B&B Landscape Contractors for Landscaping Saratoga Avenue Median Islands in the amount of $49,486 and authorization for staff to execute change orders up to $5,000 - Removed at the City Council Minutes 2 December 4, 1996 request of Councilmember Wolfe. 5) Memo AuthoEizingPublicity for Upcoming Hearings - No hearings scheduled for December 18. 7) Appointment of Marcia Manzo as Saratoga,s Representative to citizen,s Advisory Committee to Library Joint Powers Authority S) Approval of Check Register Removed at the request of Councilmember Wolfe. Councilmember Shaw requested removal of Item 3, and Councilmember Wolfe removed Items 5 and 8. WOLFE/SHAW TO APPROVE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 5.B~ 1, 2, 4, 6 ~ND 7. PASSED 5-0. 3) Resolution adjusting Budget for Sherlff,s Department Costs Councilmember Shaw noted that the City Manager' s memo addressed the adjustment and said this reinforces his thought that there should be some justification from the Sheriff for the increased costs. Councilmember Wolfe said he did not think they were in a position to make adjustments to this fee at this time. He said he would like to table this motion until such time as they are more familiar with the new budget situation. Discussion followed regarding the impact of continuing the item and the date for continuance. Council also expressed a preference for adjusting- the budget rather than taking the money from the contingency fund. City Manager Peacock said Council can use the contingency fund without an impact on the balance of the General Fund. He clarified that the contingency was set up to avoid having to adjust the balance of the General Fund because this money is available to take care of unexpected expenses. He said if the City does not pay the Sheriff in a timely manner they would incur a penalty. City Manager Peacock said there is a 10% cap on the increase the Sheriff can levy each year. This adjustment is generally under that cap. He said the concern is the 15% increase in costs for communication. The City is obligated to pay the rate as long as it is under the cap; however, they are under no obligation to continue all services. Staff will meet with the Sheriff next week. JACOBS/SHAW TO CONTINUE THE RESOLUTION ADJUSTING BUDGET FOR BHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT COSTS TO DECEMBER 18. PASSED 5-0. 5} Award of Contract to B&B Landscape Contractors for Landscaping Saratoga Avenue Median Islands in the amount of $49,486 8aid authorization for staff to execute change orders up to $5,000 Councilmember Wolfe said this stands at the opposite pole from the previously discussed item as far as its effect on the budget. The amount is half that of the highest bid. There is no assurance the City would get a bid this low in the future. That portion of Saratoga Avenue is the gateway to the City. WOLFE/BOGOSIAN TO AWARD THE CONTRACT TO B&B LANDSCAPE CONTRACTOE8 FOR LANDSCAPING SARATOGA AVENDEMEDIANI8LANDS IN TREAMOUNTOF $49,486AND TO AUTHORIZE STAFF TO EXECUTE CHANGE ORDERS UP TO $5,000.. Public Works Director Perlin told Council that they believe the new landscaping will reduce maintenance costs because they will be installing more efficient landscaping and drip irrigation. The whole City Council Minutes 3 December 4, 1996 point is to install landscaping similar to what was put in near the interchange. THE MOTION PASSED 5-0. 8) Approval of Check Register Councilmember Wolfe raised questions about items in the Check Register, such as barricades, wall calendars, circus tickets, and overtime meal reimbursement. WOLFE/BOGOSIAN TO APPROVE THE CHECK REGISTER. PASSED 5-0. City Manager Peacock said he would respond to Councilmember Wolfe's questions after the meeting. C. CLAIMS AGAINST THE CITY - None. 6. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. Resolution ordering Abatement of a Public Nuisance by Removal of Hazardous Weeds city Manager Peacock presented the staff report. Councilmember Jacobs stated that his property is on the llst and he will abstain from voting on the item. Director of Public Works Perlin said the list is usually one year in arrears. City Manager Peacock answered questions regarding notification of property 6wners and explained the weed abatement process. Me said this is a routine matter and a process the City is required to go through in order to put the costs on the tax bill. Mayor Moran opened the public hearing. Lou Thorpe, Farwell Avenue, said he had received a notice for two or three years in a row and asked what determined which lots are put on the list. Me said he understood they can remove the weeds while he is not there and send him a bill. He requested that he be notified before they remove the weeds. Jennifer Bates, Weed Abatement Inspector for Santa Clara County Fire Marshall's Office, said they add parcels during their annual inspection and some of their criteria were weeds six or more inches tall or weeds around structures. If a property has been maintained properly for the past four years they will drop it from the program if there are no more problems. She said she would be glad to inspect Mr. Thorpe's property. She said this is the only notification property owners receive but it provides ample time for them to take care of the problem themselves if they want to. Mayor Moran closed the public hearing at 8:06 p.m. SHAW/WOLFE TO ADOPTREBOLUTION NO. 96-63 ORDERINGABATEMENT OF A PUBLIC NUISANCE BY REMOVAL OF HAZARDOUS WEEDS. PASSED 4-0 (Councilmember Jacobs abstained). 7. OLD BUSINESS - None. 8. NEW BUSINESS A. Ordinance repealing Utility User Tax City Attorney Riback said this ordinance is a result of the recent election in which Measure L failed and will repeal the current article which establishes the utility users' tax. If enacted, it will be in City Council Minutes 4 December 4, 1996 effect immediately. The actual discontinuance of collection of the tax will be December 1. PG&E has been notified and will stop collection as of December 1. WOLFE/JACOBS TO ADOPT ORDINANCE NO. 71-168 BY TITLE ONLY, WAIVING READING IN FULL. PASSED 5-0. B. Resolution appointing Margaret Angelopoulis, Barbara Fahs, and Arthur Okuno as Trustees of the Hakone Foundation JACOBS/BOGOSIANTOADOPTRESOLUTION NO. 96-64 APPOINTING I~EI&BER~OFTHE HAKONE POUNDATION BOARD. PASSED 5-0. C. Oral Communications (continued) and instructions to staff regarding actions on current oral communications - None. 9. ROUTINE MATTERS A. Approval of Minutes - 11/20 WOLFE/JACOBS TO APPROVE THE NOVEMBER 20 MINUTES AS SUBMITTED. PASSED 3-0 (Councilmembers Shaw and Bogosian abstained). 10. CITY COUNCIL ITEMS A. Agenda for next adjourned meeting - 12/24 meeting canceled. B. Resolution on City Council Liaison Appointments councilmember Bogosian requested information as to which organizations pay representatives and the amount of the pay. By consensus, Council continued the item to the December 10 me~ting and requested that staff provide copies of the resolution which include Councilmembers' names as well as information as to which of the agencies pay representatives and the amount of the pay. C. Discussion of Schedule of Meetings for Budget Adjustments Mayor Moran suggested a session in which Council would begin with the City's Mission and Vision Statements. City Manager Peacock said staff has tentatively set February 1 as the date to launch the 1998-99 budget deliberations and conduct the mid year budget review. Council needs to look at how much work they want to do in January in preparation for the February 1 launch. He said Council should deal with this issue as early as possible. Councilmember Wolfe said they should meet in January to redesign their position as a minimal service city. Council discussed possible dates for the meetings and agreed that the first meeting would address philosophical issues, and they would discuss budget and scenarios staff has drawn up at the second one. Councilmember Shaw said it would be helpful if staff could put together a representation by program as to current budget and revenue sources. Jim Stuart said this sounded like a meeting the public would be interested in and having it during the day might limit the number who could attend. Discussion followed regarding time and date. By consensus, Council set January 6 at 7:00 p.m. and requested that the budget and scenario information be disseminated prior to that meeting. A second meeting will be held in January, possibly on the 13th. D. Other City Council Minutes 5 December 4, 1996 Councilmember Bogosian gave staff a list of items to be placed on the December 18 agenda concerning Council agendas, meetings and procedures. 11. iaJ)JOUIh~ENT The meeting was adj ourned at 8: 27 p.m. to 7: 00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 10, at Administration Meeting Room, 13777 Fruitvale Avenue. Respectfully submitted, Roberta Wolfe Minutes Clerk