The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About06-17-1998 City Council Minutes MINUTES SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL TIME: Wednesday, June 17, 1998 - 7:30 p.m. PLACE: Civic Theater, 13777 Fruitvale Ave. TYPE: Regular Meeting 7:30 - Pledge of Allegiance - Led by Barbara Farhum, mother of Youth Commissioner Farnum. 1. ROLL CALL Councilmembers Bogosian, Moran, Shaw and Mayor Wolfe were present; Councilmember Jacobs was absent. Staff members present were City Manager Perlin, Community Development Director Walgren, City Attorney Riback, and Deputy City Clerk Cozy. 2. CEREMONIAL ITEMS A. Resolution appointing and reappointing Youth Commissioners MORAN/SHAW MOVED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 98-17. Passed 4-0. B. Administration of Oath of Office to Youth Commissioners Altafi, Ho, Mount, Siadat, Weiner, Farnum and Johnson Mayor Wolfe administered the Oath of Office to all commissioners except Mount and Weiner. C. Proclamation on saratoga HomeTown Celebration July 3 SHAW/BOGOSIAN MOVED TO APPROVE PROCLAMATION. Passed 4-0. 3. REPORT OF CITY CLERK ON PO8TING OF AGENDA PUrsuant to Government Code 54954.2, the agenda for this meeting was properly posted on June 12. 4. COMMUNICATIONS FROM COMMISSIONS AND THE PUBLIC A. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS 1) Update by ALTRANS Representative Jill Thompson, representing ALTRANS, described recent activities of ALTRANS and noted that a meeting would be held to develop programs for next year. Councilmember Moran suggested that Jill invite the school liaison person from the Public Safety Commission to the meeting. Executive Director Steve Blaylock reviewed further the activities and accomplishments of ALTRANS. Rick Callender, representing the Santa Clara Valley Water District, urged the Council to support a letter concerning the CalFed Bay Delta Program. Mayor Wolfe stated that the issue would he"taken up after public hearings. 2) Mayor,s Remarks about 8aratoga's Future Revenue Growth Mayor Wolfe read a statement concerning the long-term financial health of the City of Saratoga. Me suggested that a Blue Ribbon Panel be formed to make recommendations. B. COMMUNICATIONS FROM COMMISSIONS - None. C. WRITTEN COMMUNICATION8 - None. Since the hour of 8:00 p.m. had arrived, Mayor Wolfe proceeded to public hearings on the agenda. 6. PUBLIC HEARING8 City Council Xinutes 2 June 17, 1998 A. AppeaI of denial of request for Design Review approval to construct a new two-stox~, single family residence, 4,043 sq. ft. in sise, 25 ft. in height, on a 29,020 sq. ft. lot at 14295 Burns Way in the H-l-15,000 2oning District (APN 503-23-006~ DRgS-007) (Appellant/applicant, Jayakumar) Mayor Wolfe noted that the appellant/applicant had requested a continuance to July 15. City Manager Perlin briefly described the appeal and noted a number of communications that had been received after the Council's information packet had been delivered to them. City Attorney Riback explained that those who wished to speak tonight could do so, but they could also wait until July 15 to speak. The public hearing was opened at 8:00 p.m. Jim Renalds, Marion Way, opposed the project. He felt single-story ranch homes were appropriate for the neighborhood. Jim Payne, Kurt Voester, and Dorothy Stamper said they would speak at the July 15 meeting. Gary Campbell asked the Council to read his letter. Councilmembers reported meeting and speaking to the appellants and receiving communications from interested parties. AT 8:20 P.M. MOI~AN/SHAW MOVED TO CONTINUE THE HEARING TO JULY 15. Passed 4-0. B. Appeal of Use Permit approval to install 3 cellular panel antennas on an existing PG&E transmission tower with an associated radio equipment shelter (approximately 160 sg. ft.) to be located directly beneath the tower. The site is located east of Quite Rd. and adjacent to Hwy. 85 within an R-1-10,000 residential soning district. An initial study and negative declaration have been prepared for this project pursuant to the requirements of the California Enviroemental Quality Act. (APN 403-24-001~ UP98-005) (Appellant, Jensen~ Applicant, Cellular One) City Manager Perlin introduced Community Development Director Walgren, who reviewed the staff report. The public hearing was opened at 8:30 p.m. Cheriel Jensen, Quite Road, the appellant, reiterated her appeal letter. Cheryl Zatkin-Steres, Pierce Road, spoke in favor of cellular phones. She believed they were important in dealings with her patients and with her family. George Steres concurred and questioned the appellantis grounds for concern over the transmissions from the tower. The public hearing was closed at 8:45 p.m. MOI~AN/SHAW MOVED TO DENY THEAPPEAL, UPHOLDING THE PLANNING COMMISSION DECISION. Passed 4-0. C. Landscaping and Lighting District LLA-I: Public Hearing on Proposed Assessments for FY 98-99 city Manager Perlin reviewed the staff report. The public hearing was opened at 8:55 p.m~ No one appearing to speak or submit ballots, it was closed at 8:56 p.m. City Manager Perlin reviewed the tally of votes, as shown below. City Council Hinutes 3 June 17, 1998 BALLOTS ACTUAL VOTES UNDELIVERED ZONE SUPPORT OPPOSE ORUNSIGNED 27 31 6 7 2 28 16 3 4 0 29 60 29 7 5 30 '1 0 1 0 Since the assessments had failed in three of the four zones, Councilmembers discussed how to proceed. There was consensus to continue the public hearing to July 1 to allow the City Manager time to notify those who had not voted that they could still vote and to clarify the instructions to avoid unusable ballots. SHAW/BOGOSIANMOVED TO RE-OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 9:05 P.M. Passed 4-0. SHAW/BOGOSIAN MOVED TO CONTINUE THE PUBLIC HEARING TO JULY 1. Passed 4-0. 4. A. Oral Communications (continued) and instructions to staff regarding actions on current oral communications (Clerk's note: The following action was taken under the provisions of Government Code 54954.2(b)(2) concerning the need to take immediate action on an item which came up after posting of the agenda.) BOGOSIAN/SHAW MOVED TO ADD SANTA CLARA VALLEY WATER DISTRICT LETTER CONCERNING CALFED BAY-DELTA PROGRAM TO AGENDA. Passed 4-0. BOGOSIAN/MORAN MOVED TO DIRECT MAYOR TO SIGN LETTER. Passed 4-0. 7. OLD BUSINESS A. Fees for Temporaz7 Use Permits for Non-Profit Groups (continued from 6/3) City Manager Perlin acknowledged communications received since the City Council received their information packet. Rabbi Daniel Pressman, Convener of the Saratoga Ministerial Association, spoke in favor of waiving fees for non-profit groups because of the many benefits they confer on the community. Father A1 Larkin, Sacred Heart Church, also favored waiving fees, as did Cheryl Zatkin-Steres, Pierce Road; George Steres, Pierce Road; Ms. Bernie Hoye, Sacred Heart Church; Howard Stohlman, Melinda Circle; Brett Borah, Northampton Dr.; and Rev. Ernest Cockrell. Mayor Wolfe suggested that only a token fee such as $25.00 be charged non-profit groups. Other Councilmembers favored lowering the fees, but not to a token amount. MORAN/BOGOSIANMOVED TO APPROVE THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION WITH THE FEES AMENDED TO $200 AND $500. Passed 3-1 (Wolfe opposed).' Mayor Wolfe then returned to Item 5 on the agenda. 5. CONSENT CALENDAR A. Previously-Discussed Items - None. B. New Items 1) Planning Commission Actions, 6/10 - Note and file. 2) City Financial Reports for April and May a) Treasurer's Report - Receive and file. b) Investment Report - Receive and file. City Council Minutes 4 June 17, 1998 c) Tinancial Report - Receive and file. 3) Approval of Check Register 4) Ordinance 71-175 making City Clerk position Separate from the City Manager (second reading and adoption) Memo Authorizing Publicity for Upcoming Hearings - Valet Parking Approvals of Permits and Fee Waivers in Connection with Saratoga HomeTownCelebration on Friday, July 3, at villa Montalvo 7) Final Map Approval (2 lots at 15001 BohlmnnRd.) (Owner, Miller) 8} Request for Fee Waiver for Saratoga Community Band Councilmember Bogosian removed Item 3 from the Consent Calendar. SHAW/BOGOSIAN MOVED TO APPROVE ALL ITEMS EXCEPT ITEM 3. Passed 4-0. Councilmember Bogosian asked two questions about the Check Register which were answered by City Manager Perlin. BOGOSIAN/MORAN MOVED TO APPROVE ITEM 3. Passed 4-0. C. CLAIMS AGAINST THE CITY - None. 8. NEW BUSINESS - None. 9. ROUTINE MATTERS A. Approval of Minutes - SHAW/MORANMOVED TO APPROVE MINUTES OF JUNE 3. Passed 4-0. SHAW/MORAN MOVED TO APPROVE MINUTES OF JUNE 9. Passed 3-0 (Bogosian abstaining because he had been absent for the meeting). Councilmember Moran requested that the Council return to Item 4.A. 4. I. Oral Communications (continued) and instructions .to' staff regarding actions on current oral communications Mayor Wolfe Proposal: Councilmember Moran did not favor the idea of a Blue Ribbon Panel; she felt the Finance Commission has been asked by the Council to provide the answers to these questions. She favored regaining lost funds such as TEA before looking for other means of revenue increase. Councilmember Shaw favored deferring this item until a full Council was present; he felt further long-term planning such as a five-year plan was necessary. Mayor Wolfe felt that the Council needed to proceed to obtain community input. Councilmember Bogosian believed that the voters have .a right to know where a candidate stands on the issue of taxes. He agreed that the Finance commission is doing long-range financial planning. There was consensus to place the proposal on the July 7 agenda. City Manager Perlin expected cablecasting equipment to be in place by then. 10. CITY COUNCIL ITEMS a.agenda items for next adjourned regular meeting - No meeting June 23. B. Other Cit~ Council Hinutes 5 ~une 17, 1998 In response to Councilmember Moran, City Manager Perlin stated he hoped to have a presentation from the sewer district on July 15. Mayor Wolfe encouraged people to attend the HomeTown Celebration on July 3. 11. CITY MANAGEReS REPORT - Announced that Planning Commission interviews were being scheduled for July 1, when the full Council should be present. - Announced changes in dates of Playfield Development Task Force meetings. - Reported he had received a call from the Governor's Office concerning a poll on the Vehicle License Fee proposal. Mayor Wolfe felt the fee should be repealed. After discussion, there was majority consensus to direct the City Manager to write a letter in response saying Saratoga does not support repeal of the Vehicle License Fee without guaranteed backfill from the State. 12. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 10:25 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Grace E. Cory Deputy City Clerk