Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-03-1998 City Council Minutes - BARATOGA CITY COUNCIL TIME: Wednesday, June 3, 1998 - 6:30 p.m. PLACE: Civic Theater, 13777 Fruitvale Ave. TYPE: Regular Meeting Special Meeting for the purpose of a Closed Session - 6:30 in Administration Conference Room, 13777 Fruitvale Avenue PUrsuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(a): CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL-EXISTING LITIGATION Names of cases: Baykeepers vs. City of Saratoga; Saratoga vs. West Valley-Mission College District Mayor's Report on Closed Bession - No decisions made. Pledge of Allegiance - Led by Marlene Duffin. 1. ROLL CALL The meeting was called to order at 7:45 p.m. Councilmembers Bogosian, Jacobs, Moran, Shaw and Mayor Wolfe were present. Also present were City Manager Perlin, Community Development Director Walgren, Associate Engineer Cherbone, Administrative Analyst LOft, City Attorney Riback, and Deputy City Clerk Cory. 2. CEREMONIAL ITEMS A. Resolution commending Warren Lampshire as citizen of the Year JACOBS/SHAW MOVED TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION. Passed 5-0. B. Proclamation commending Olga MacFarlane as Executive Director, BABCC MORAN/SHAW MOVED TO APPROVE THE PROCLAMATION. Passed 5-0. C. Resolution commending Richard Siegfried for Service on Planning Commission MORAN/JACOBS MOVED TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION. Passed 5-0. Mr. Siegfried was present and accepted his resolution. D. Resolutions commending Outgoing Youth Commissioners JACOBS/MORAN MOVED TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTIONS. Passed 5-0. Commissioners Chang and Prolo accepted their proclamations. E. Proclamation on the S0th ~nniversary of Israel,s Independence MOI~AN/JACOBS MOVED TO APPROVE THE PROCLAMATION. Passed 5-0. Councilmember Bogosian noted that he supported the' proclamation, although he expressed the hope that Israel would deal constructively with the resident Palestinians. 3. REPORT OF CITY CLERK ON POBTING OF AGENDA PUrsuant to Government Code 54954.2, the agenda for this meeting was properly posted on May 29. 4. COMMUNICATIONS FROM COMMIBBIONB AND THE PUBLIC A. OI~L COMMUNICATIONS Joan Hershkowitz, 19364 Shubert Ct., Co-Chair of the Freeway Noise Abatement Committee, asked for clarification of the Counciles position on the Route 85 test corridor project and requested a statement about how the Council planned to keep the issue in the forefront. She also suggested that the City Council review letters sent to legislators and City Council Minutes 2 June 3, 1998 stated that the Committee wished to be included in t~e process. B. COMMUNICATION8 FROM COMMISSIONS - None. C. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS - None. Since the hour of 8:00 p.m. had been reached, Mayor Wolfe proceeded to public hearings. 6. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. Roofing Issues 1) ordinance amending the Saratoga Building Code to require Class A Roofing throughout the City for fire safety reasons (second reading) 2) Resolution setting forth Findings of Local Conditions City Manager Perlin reviewed the first reading of the ordinance and introduced the staff member who had prepared the report. Administrative Analyst Loft stated there were knowledgeable people in attendance to answer questions if needed. The public hearing was opened at 8:01 p.m. Jim Brooks spoke as a representative of Los Gatos Roofing. He believed that requiring Classes A or B is excessive and that Class C is sufficient. He felt Class A roofs were generally.too heavy. Robert Bums, Committee for Fire Safe Dwellings, stated that Class A roofs were necessary to prevent the possibility of a firestorm. Saratoga Fire District Chief Kraule called for considering Saratoga~s future. He stated that Class A roofs were required to create a "defensible roof." The public hearing was closed at 8:30 p.m. JACOBS/SHAW MOVED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 98-15. Passed 5-0. BOGOSIAN/MORAN MOVED TO ADOPT THE ORDINANCE BY TITLE ONLY, WAIVING FURTHER READING. B. Public Hearing on Proposed Formation of Underground Utility DistrictNumber 8 (Saratoga Avenue between Fruitvale Avenue and Baroni court) City Manager Perlin reviewed the report. The public hearing was opened at 8:35 p.m. Bill Sousa stated he lives 700 feet from Saratoga Avenue off a private road. He expressed concerns about possible damage to water and gas lines. He' believed the cost to underground utilities along private road would be $5,000 or more, and he feared significant"cost exposure. He requested that the Council either leave private roads alone 'or underground utilities for a shorter distance along them. Arne Lunde, Baroni Court, expressed concern about costs of undergrounding utilities. Bill Ford, Saratoga Avenue, feared that the trenching would damage old oaks and a driveway he had recently repaired. He was also concerned about costs. Associate Engineer Cherbone stated that there would be no cost to underground all the poles in Baroni Court. Be and City Manager Perlin explained further details about the project. There was consensus to underground utilities only up to the first pole on private roads. Councilmember Jacobs suggested that staff meet with property owners to ensure they understand what is being planned. tit7 ~ounoil Minutes 3 Jttne 3, Xgg8 City Manager Perlin stated that staff would send a notice to the property owners to make sure everyone understands the plan. There was consensus to continue the public hearing to August 5. Mayor Wolfe returned to Item 4.A. on the agenda. 4. A. Oral Communications (continued) and instructions to staff regarding actions on current oral communications Regarding Joan Mershkowitz' concerns, Mayor Wolfe stated that the City is trying to communicate with officials to work for noise abatement. Councilmember Shaw stated that they intended to keep pressure on Assemblyman Cunneen. Mayor Wolfe returned to public hearings on the agenda. C. Hearing on Brush and Weed Abatement City Manager Perlin reviewed the staff report. The public hearing was opened at 9:20 p.m.. No one appearing to speak, it was closed at 9:21 p.m. SHAW/MORAN MO~ED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 98-16 ORDERING REMOVAL OF WEEDS AND BRUSH. Passed 5-0. D. city of Saratoga Budget, 1998-2000 City Manager Perlin reviewed the proposed budget and explained overhead projections which indicated the City's financial picture for the next two years. Me stated that he expected to have the full budget document by July 1. Mayor Wolfe recessed the meeting from 9:45 p.m. to 9:55 p.m. When the meeting was reconvened, Councilmember Shaw complimented the City Manager on the report. Councilmember Bogosian noted that the City now was receiving benefits from the new HTE computer system. .. Mayor Wolfe was gratified that the City seemed to be putting-things in order but was concerned for revenues, particularly as they affect public safety and services. He said he intended to make a proposal concerning revenues at the next meeting. The public hearing was opened at 9:56 p.m. No one appearing to speak, it was closed at 9:57 p.m. 7. OLD BUSINESS X. Report on Temporaz7 Use Pezmit Fees for Non-Profit 8zoups Community Development Director Walgren reviewed the s~aff report and answered Councilmembers' questions. Mayor Wolfe stated that Saratoga ministers would like to be heard on the issue. Marlene Duffin, representing the Good Government Group, suggested that staff time could be saved by having the non-profit groups perform some of the work. This might allow the fees to be lower. Bill Cooper, representing the Chamber of Commerce, agreed that groups could perform some work. He did not oppose cost recovery, but he felt fees should be lower for local non-profit groups. Mayor Wolfe stated that some non-profit'groups have delayed events because of the costs; he believed that the benefits conferred on the community by the groups are incalculable. City Council Minutes 4 June 3, 1998 Councilmember Jacobs opposed subsidizing non-profit groups, which may or may not be charitable, any more than other groups. He favored full cost recovery. There was consensus to continue this item to June 17 and to so inform the Ministers Association. B. Ordinance Relating to the Appointment of the City Clerk Position Separate from that of City Manager (first reading and introduction) City Manager Perlin reviewed the staff report and answered Councilmembers' questions. He stated that the raise in salary classification would not necessarily result in an increase in salary costs because after the current Deputy City Clerk resigns, the replacement could be hired at a step lower than her current salary. If hired at the first step, it would take an employee several years to rise to the top step. MORAN/SHAW MOVED TO INTRODUCE THE ORDINANCE BY TITLE ONLY, WAIVING FURTHER READING. Passed 5-0. City Manager Perlin noted that the ordinance would return for its second reading on June 17. 8. NEW BUSINESS A. Proposed Standards for Newsracks in Public Right of Way Administrative Analyst Loft reviewed the staff report and introduced several members of the audience who had participated in the newsrack deliberations. Bill Cooper, representing the Chamber of Commerce, complimented the staff and those who worked on the committee. Councilmember Moran asked whether the standards would be compatible with the Village Design Handbook. Administrative Analyst Loft stated that the group had reviewed the handbook. Although the handbook calls for wood, the group! decided against it because of maintenance problems. The modular design was agreed upon because it could be replaced easily if necessary. City Manager Perlin noted that Community Development DireCtor James Walgren had participated in the process, and he was familiar with the Village Design Handbook. BOGOSIAN/JACOBS MOVED TO APPROVE STANDANDS. Passed 5-0. Mayor Wolfe then returned to the Consent Calendar. 5. CONSENT CALENDAR A. Previously-Discussed Items - None. B. New Items 1) Planning Commission Actions, 5/27 - Note and file. 2) Direction to Staff to Review Conflict of Interest Code 3) Memo Authorizing Publicity for Upcoming Hearings - LLA-1; JayakumarAppeal; Jensen Appeal 4) Approval of Check Register SHAW/JACOBS MOVED TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR. Passed 5-0. C. CLAIMS AGAINST THE CITY - None. 9. ROUTINE MATTERS Cit~ Council Minutes 5 June 3, 1998 ~. ~pproval of Minutes - 5/20~ 5/26 MORAN/JACOBS MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF MAY 20. Passed 3-0 (Bogosian and Shaw abstaining because they had not been present). JACOBS/BOGOSIAN MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF MAY 26. Passed 5-0. CITY COUNCIL ITEMS A. agenda items for next adjourned regular meeting - Y o u t h Commission Interviews B. Other 11. CITY MANAGER,8 REPORT City Manager Perlin reported on summer day camp registration; a letter from TCI stating that effective July 1 Request TVNetwork would change to Viewers Choice; VTA changed Bicycle Advisory Committee to 16 members and the City needs to appoint a representative (not staff or Council); Public Safety Officers picnic to be held July 25; Jack Grantham has resigned from the Library Commission; meeting with Census Bureau to improve on 1990 census; proposal to paint Administration Building -- consensus to add to June 9 agenda; thanks to Pete Gonda for work on budget materials. 12. ADJOURNMENT At 10:45 p.m. the meeting was adjourned in memory of Senator Barry Goldwater to 7:00 p.m. on TUesday, June 9, at the Adult Care Center, 19655 Allendale Avenue. Respectfully submitted, Grace E. Cory Deputy City Clerk