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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-07-1997 City Council Minutes MINUTES SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL TIPLE: Tuesday, October 7, 1997 - 5:30 p.m. PLACE: Community Center, 19655 Allendale Avenue TYPE: Adjourned Regular Meeting NOTE: Items 1-3 of the agenda took place in the area behind the Civic Theater, 13777 Fruitvale Avenue. Item 4 took place in the Administration Conference Room of City Hall. The remainder of the meeting took place in the Multi-Purpose Room of the Saratoga Community Center, 19655 Allendale Avenue. 1. Roll Call - 5:30 p.m. Councilmembers Bogosian, Shaw, Wolfe and Mayor Moran were present; Councilmember Jacobs was absent. Also present were Interim City Manager Perlin, Recreation Director Pisani, and Administrative Services Director Fil. 2. Report of City Clerk on Posting of Agenda Pursuant to Government Code 54954.2, the agenda for this meeting was properly .posted on October 3. The notice of adjournment from the October I Council meeting was properly posted on October 2. 3. Review of Paint Schemes for Civic Center Buildlngs Councilmembers reviewed the paint schemes and directed staff to prepare samples of more shades of gray to review on October 15. 4. Interviews with Parks and Recreation Commission Applicants 6:00 - Luetz - Withdrew 6210 - Ioannou 6220 - Crotty 6230 -- Olsen - Unable to attend; Finance Committee applicant Roten was interviewed instead. There was consensus to appoint Ms. Ioannou and reappoint Commissioner Crotty to a one-year term. Commissioner Olsen will be interviewed when she is available. Staff was directed to continue recruitment because of the recent resignation of Rick Blomquist. The meeting was recessed from 6:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The same Councilmembers and staff members were present when the meeting was reconvened in the Community Center. In addition, Deputy City Clerk Cory was present. 5. Oral Communicationsl from the Publlc on Non-Agendized Items - 7:00 - None. 6. Consideration of council Position on SB1258 (Vasconcellos) Interim City Manager Perlin explained the bill, which would limit the ability of property owners to change school districts. Mayor Moran asked for public input on the letter prepared by staff which opposed the bill. Stephanie Petrossi, 14688 Stoneridge Dr., spoke as a trustee of the Saratoga Union School District. She favored the staff letter with the deletion of the one-city, one-district clause. Jenny Crotty, 13861 Raven Ct., opposed the bill, which she considered bad no matter how one stands on the school boundary issue. Charlotte Sparacino, 14325 Springer Ave., concurred with Ms. Petrossi. Stayton Chock, 20090 Kilbride Dr., opposed the bill. Evan Baker, 12324 Obrad Dr., favored the staff letter. City Council Minutes 2 October 7, 1997 Cindy Bitner, 12998 Cnmherland Dr., favored the staff letter with the one-city, one-district clause removed. The Council discussed the issues, and Mayor Moran read a short letter to the Governor she had composed as an alternative to the staff letter. KarenAnderson, 19887 Sea Gull Way, pointed out that three high school districts served Saratoga rather than two, as mentioned in the letter. BOGOSIAN/SHAW MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE THE STAFF*S LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR WITH THE NUMBR OF HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICTS CORRECTED. Passed 3-1 (Moran opposed) 7. Continuing discussion of school district boundary issues - Consideration of Resolution supporting city-wide H-12 school district Interim city Manager reviewed letters which had been received in the last two days and distributed to Councilmembers. Members of the public expressed opinions on such subjects as the need for the community to work together; possible interpretation of the Council's silence as not caring; feasibility or non-feasibility of a single school district in Saratoga; possible financial gain to Councilmembers by redistricting; whether greater number of students is' bad or good for district because of traffic and other reasons; the desirability of making a decision after the consultantes report is in hand or now; how a sense of community is achieved~ whether combining districts will lessen or increase administrative burden; perception that non-Saratogans are 'unwelcome in the Saratoga Union School District; consideration of resolution as an equal rights issue; impact of redistricting on matters such as student/teacher ratios. Evan Baker, 12324 Obrad Dr., representing the Saratoga Woods Homeowners Association, favored the resolution. Cindy Bitnet, 12998 Cumberland Dr., PTA President of Argonaut School, favored postponing a decision on the resolution. Maya Baba, 19180 Portos Dr., submitted a petition with over 150 signatures asking the Council to postpone a decision on the school boundary issue until after the County study. Ellen Reeves, President of the Foothill School PTA, also requested a postponement. Laura M. Ford-Marchelos, 13211 Berwick St., speaking for Marshall Lane School parents, favored the staff letter. Lynn Sprague, 14605 Bougainvillea Ct., favored postponement of a decision. George Marchelos, 13211 Betwick St., representing the Saratoga Alliance for Change, favored the resolution but urged the Council to take its time. He believed the City should serve all the residents, including those in the Marshall Lane School area. Cyndi L. Chang, 20646 Leonard Rd., a Foothill School traffic guard, favored postponement of a decision. Pat Gillings, 16090 Ridgecrest Ave., Monte Sereno, opposed the resolution. Susan Monteverde, 12228 Melinda Circle, a resident of the Cupertino School District, stated that the current system is a logistic nightmare, and areas such as Prides Crossing, Blue Hills, and Greenbriar need consistency. Stephanie Petrossi, 14688 Stoneridge Dr., and the other members of the Saratoga Union School District Board rose to request postponement of a decision. She said that at this point the Board neither supports nor opposes the resolution, but wishes to protect all students in the district, including those from Cupertino, Monte Sereno, and Los Gatos. City Council Minutes 3 October 7, 1997 Jennifer Cauble, 18831 McFarland Ave., with children in Rolling Hills and Marshall Lane schools, noted the m~mber of agencies from various jurisdictions serving her family and expressed the desire to feel a part of the Saratoga community. Judy Tatro, 13958 Chester Ave., favored the resolution. Leon Beauchman, President of Campbell Union School District Governing board, believed there should be community forums to work out the boundary issues. Lonn Fiance, 20279 Pierce Rd., favored postponement of the resolution, as did Brigitte Bailingall, 13573 Ronnie Way, and Jeffrey D. Cos, 16372 Ridgecrest Ave. Charlotte Wong, 13207 Pasec Presada, favored the resolution. Charlotte Sparacino, a Saratoga resident in Saratoga Union School District, favored local control and listening to everyone in the area. Bette Cruikshank, 20303 Calle Montalvo, favored postponing the resolution, as did Kristy Tallman, 20151 Thelma Ave. Y.N. Chen, 12161 Parker Ranch Rd., whose children go to the Cupertino School District, encouraged the Council to make a decision that is best for everyone. Thomas Surrette, 19222 DeHavilland Dr., Opposed the resolution, as did Chi-Jung Huang. Rita Romero, 18359 Montpere Way, favored the resolution.' Jennifer Short, 18970 Greenbrook Ct., stated she lives in the Campbell School District and wishes to feel more a part of Saratoga. Karen Anderson, representing the Greenbriar Homeowners Association spoke in favor of the resolution. Susan Desmond, 20570 Reid Lane, favored postponing the resolution, as did Sharon Lam, 20340 Glasgow Dr. Jose Camara, 18591 Perego Way, favored the resolution. Another member of the audience favored postponing the resolution. Jenny Crotty, 13861 Raven Ct., stated that the intent of the resolution is not to exclude non-Saratoga residents. She favored pulling together. Mary Clabeaux, 20201 Argonaut Dr., with two children at Argonaut School, favored postponement of the resolution. Another member of the audience did not wish to exclude part of Saratoga and favored working together. Carolyn Drozdiak, 19353 Melinda Circle, a resident of the Cupertino School District, favored the spirit of inclusion in the resolution. A resident of Saratoga Woods said that realignment can result in the flight of students from schools. Susan Hollis, 18297 Baylor Ave., with children at McAuliffe, felt she was a good school parent and would continue to be one if her family were in Saratoga schools. Charles Varvayanis, 18352 Clemson Ave., favored the resolution. Herb Radding, 14050 Chester Ave., noted that there had been previous attempts to make the boundaries contiguous; he felt Saratoga will need more schools. Marcia Fariss, 18983 Saratoga Glen Pi., favored the resolution if it City Council Minutes 4 October7, 1997 were amended to support the one-district concept only if feasible. Deborah Ellis, 12824 Saratoga Glen Ct., a resident of the Moreland School District, felt that she paid higher taxes but did not get the benefits of Saratoga schools. Bonnie Yamaoka, 19625 Douglass Lane, favored p6stponing the resolution. Peggy Koen, 22000 Dorsey Way, Clerk of the Board of the Saratoga Union School District, urged the Council to collect the facts before making a decision. Linda Sato, 14232 Juniper Lane, with children' at Foothill School, opposed the resolution. Diane Larman, 15950 Lomita Ct., stated she moved to Monte Sereno because of the school district for that neighborhood, and she is satisfied with the district. She believed if anything were changed, it should be the City boundaries. Rebecca Smith-Coggins, 14005 Oak Hollow Rd., favored postponing a decision on the resolution. Peggy Jeng, '18339 Clemson Ave., stated she was concerned about the quality of children~s education. Bruce Larman, a resident of Monte Sereno, favored postponing the resolution, as did Marci Burns, Joyce Avery Burg, 13712 Lexington Ct. and Ken Chang, 20096 Chateau Dr. Monique Drumm, 18395 Montpere Way, 'favored the resolution. Another member of the public favored postponing the resolution. Judy Golod, 13722 Fortuna Ct., favored the resolution. Jeff Schwartz, San Marcos Road, a resident of the Saratoga Union School District, felt the discussion should be about education and community rather than property values. Since it appeared that everyone who wished to speak had done so, Mayor Moran closed the public comment time at 9:25 p.m. Councilmembers discussed the issues. WOLFE/SHAW MOVED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 97-40. Passed 3-1 (Moran opposed). Mayor Moran thanked the City Manager for preparing the resolution and the letter to the Governor. The meeting was recessed from 9:40 pm. to 9:55 p.m. 8. Self-Evaluation of Previous Meetings (September 3, 17, October 1) Mayor Moran commented that the Council should let the County know that the Council trusts that they are handling issues such as design review differently now. 9. Agency Assignment Reports Mayor Moran reported that the sewer district is assessing age of various facilities in the district, including in Saratoga, which has some older ones. She feels the district needs to convince the public that the funding is needed for refurbishing. She also reported that the Emergency Preparedness Council may grant a few thousand dollars to Saratoga. Councilmember Bogosian reported, in connection with the Library JPA, that he expects to get copies of the Markkula Center report soon. City Council Minutes 5 October7, 1997 Councilmember Shaw asked about the possiblity that the loft in the Multi-Purpose Room could be used for televising. Interim City Manager Perlin stated that would be investigated. 10. Alternate Appointments for Agenc~ Assignments There was consensus to appoint alternates for agency assignments after the Council reorganization on December 3. Staff was directed to provide meeting dates for the various agencies. It was noted that the alternate for the North Central Flood Control Advisory Board should be a Councilmember rather than a staff member. Councilmembers will inform the Mayor of the appointments each prefers. 11. Other Councilmember Wolfe requested that staff prepare a letter to Joe Simitian for the Mayor to sign thanking him for service monitoring elections in Bosnia. Interim City Manager Perlin updated the council on the TEA bill. 12. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 10:25 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Grace E. Cory Deputy City Clerk