Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-09-1999 City Council Minutes MINUTES SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL TIME: Tuesday, February 9, 1999 - 6:00 p.m. PLACEi Closed Session, Administration Conference Room, 13777 Fruitvale Avenue Adjourned Regular Meeting, Adult Care Center, 19655 Allendale Avenue TYPE: Adjourned Regular Meeting/Joint Meeting with Sheriff, Saratoga Fire District and Public Safety Commission OPEN SESSION - 6:00 p.m., Administration Conference Room, 13777 Fruitvale Avenue CLOSED SESSION A. Conference with Legal Counsel pursuant to Government Code 54956.9 - Existing Litigation; Name of Case: San Francisco Baykeepers et al vs. Saratoga ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING - 7:00 p.m., Adult Care Center, 19655 Allendale Avenue MAYOR'S REPORT ON CLOSED SESSION - Mayor Shaw declared there were no reportable actions taken. CALL TO ORDER - Mayor Shaw called the meeting to order at 7:06 p.m. ROLL CALL - All Councilmembers were present. Staff present: City Manager Larry Perlin, Administrative Services Director Mary Jo Walker, Community Development Director James Walgren, Senior Administrative Analyst Irene JacobS, Administrative Analysts Pete Gonda and Paula Reeve, and City Clerk Susan A. Ramos. REPORT OF CITY CLERK ON POSTING OF AGENDA Pursuant to Government Code 54954.2, the agenda for this meeting was properly posted on February 5, 1999. The Notice &Adjournment from February 3 meeting was posted on February 4, 1999. - Reported by City Clerk Susan A. Ramos 1. Oral Communications from the Public on Non-Agendized Items None 2. Discussion with Saratoga Fire District, Sheriff, Public Safety Commission on matters of mutual interest A) Saratoga Fire District 1. Update on Fire Station renovation project Fire ChiefEmie Kraule provided an update on the subject project and presented a rendering of the proposed station. Discussion ensued regarding other locations, purchase options, and the proposed bond to fund the project. Mayor Shaw thanked Chief Kraule for his presentation. 2. Presentation by Santa Clara County Fire Marshall's office on Hazardous Vegetation Abatement Program staff on annual weed/brush abatement program. Judy Sanders, County Fire Marshall's office representative, presented a comprehensive report on the Hazardous Vegetation Management program (formerly called Weed Abatement program) and the Brush Abatement program. Her presentation included description of the programs, methodology, process requirements and schedule of events relative to its implementation. She also distributed copies of pertinent informational literature to Council and staff and introduced Marty Wicks, Program Coordinator. Minutes for City Council February 9, 1999 Adjourned Regular Meeting/ Joint Meeting with Sheriff, Saratoga Fire District and Public Safety Commission Disci~ssion ensued. In response to Councilmember Bogosian, Ms. Sanders indicated that the subject programs do not include tree removal. MayorShaw thanked Ms. Sanders for her presentation. B) Sheriff 1. Introduction of and remarks by Sheriff Laurie Smith 2. Mid-year review of SheriffDepartment activities Sheriff Laurie Smith introduced herself, provided a brief background and reaffirmed the Sheriffs commitment to provide quality law enforcement services to the City. She deferred additional comments to Capt. Wilson, who provided a summary of the mid-year budget review and distributed copies of the subject report to Council, staff and the public. Discussion ensued regarding gridlock and illegal turns, and the School Resource Officer (SRO) program. Capt. Wilson commented that some of the students from the Saratoga Elementary School at Oak Street (who are residents of Saratoga) are going to be transferred to the vacant Strawberry Park School in San Jose. In this regard, he asked whether the Council would like the SRO to spend about 15-20% of his time at the Strawberry Park school for these students. He added that at a recent meeting, Saratoga Elementary School supported this idea. Mayor Shaw recommended to have the Public Safety Commission review this matter and asked Capt. Wilson to bring this back to the Council for further discussion. Capt. Wilson invited the City Council for a ride-along with one of their deputies and 'a tour of their facility, at their convenience. Discussion ensued regarding the Sheriff's current facility and Capt. Wilson commented that although their facility is small, it is centrally located and ideal for the residents. Mayor Shaw moved the order of the agenda at this time to item C4 regarding the Safe Ride program, to allow the students an earlier time to give their presentation. 4. Presentation by Safe Rides, Inc. Dan Morse, student, presented an overview of the program and requested Council support and assistance to get the program off the ground in Saratoga. He asked if the Wamer Hutton House could be used to conduct their activities. Additionally, he commented that the program is sponsored by the American Red Cross and is endorsed by the Fire District, Sheriff and the City's Youth Commission. · Discussion ensued. Mayor Shaw recommended getting the Public Safety Commission and Youth Commission involved to develop a proposal for launching the program and requested Mr. Morse to file a written request with the City to use the Wamer Hutton House. C) Publie Safety Commission 1. Status ofAdult Business Ordinance City Manager Perlin presented the staff report and deferred additional comments to Community Development Director James Walgren. Discussion ensued regarding provisions of the proposed ordinance. Councilmember Mehaffey recommended developing a regulatory ordinance and a zoning amendment. City Manager Perlin commented that ~ermitting for adult business applications will go through the CUP review process. The proposed zoning amendment will be forwarded to the Planning Commission for their review, while the proposed regulatory ordinance will be brought back to Council on March 3~d for introduction. Page 2 of 5 Minutes for City Council February 9, 1999 Adjourned Regular Meeting/ Joint Meeting with Sheriff, Saratoga Fire District and Public Safety Commission 2. Review of 1998 Accomplishments and Priorities for 1999 Frank Lemon, Chairman, presented a report summarizing the Commission's 1998 accomplishments and 1999 goals. He introduced each member and provided an overview of their respective assignments. Mayor Shaw thanked Chairman Lemon for his presentation. 3. Recommendations for proceeding with Prides Crossing traffic study City Manager Larry Perlin presented the staff report. BAKER/BOGOSIAN MOVED TO PROCEED WITH DEVELOPING A CONTRACT TO HAVE CCS PLANNING AND ENGINEERING PROCEED WITH THE DATA GATHERING AND TRAFFIC CALMING WORKBOOK COMPONENTS OF THE GREATER PRIDES CROSSING AREA TRAFFIC STUDY. PASSED 5-0. City Manager Perlin commented that staff will bring back the subject contract for Council approval on March 3~. 3. Report from Administrative Services Director on Y2K compliant efforts Administrative Services Director Mary Jo Walker provided a comprehensive report on the City's Y2K project to include the City's various computer programs that would be impacted, methodology, contingency planning and fiscal impact. Discussion ensued regarding the City's various software applications and hardware programs and components, particularly the software application and hardware that Finance currently has in place. Mayor Shaw recommended staff pursue efforts with HTE to upgrade the IBM AS400 to meet Y2K standards at their expense. In response to Councilmember Mehaffey, City Manager Perlin commented that a countywide emergency exercise will be conducted in October and the City will be training designated emergency staff for this drill. In response to Councilmember Bogosian, Administrative Services Director Walker explained that the proposed $25,000 should be adequate to fund the proposed project to include all PC workstations with the exception of other City equipment such as fax machines, photocopiers and the postage machine. BAKER/BOGOSIAN MOVED TO DIRECT STAFF TO BRING BACK A RESOLUTION APPROVING $25,000 TO FUND THE Y2K PROJECT AT THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING AND SUBMIT MONTHLY PROGRESS REPORTS TO THE CITY COUNCIL ON THE PROJECT. 4. Saratoga Union School District NOI Response Recommendation: Direct staff to prepare City's response. City Manager Perlin presented the staff report and deferred additional comments to COmmunity Development Director Walgren. Community Development Director Walgren noted that the School District is the lead agency for this proposal and pointed out that the issues of concern are traffic, trees and on site drainage. He commented that the Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) would like to go on record that the removal of the Eucalyptus trees at the edge of the playground would result in a significant cultural impact and cannot be mitigated by planting new replacement trees in their place. Hugh Hexamer, Public Safety Commissioner, commented on mitigating traffic, building a cooperative effort between the School District and the City, and soliciting cooperation from the affected parents. He suggested involving the City's traffic engineer in this process. Furthermore, he commented that Commissioner Bailingall is currently investigating the development of a Citywide busing program to address traffic problems at Saratoga Elementmy, Blue Hills and Marshall Lane schools. Mayor Shaw recognized Dr. Arthur Anderson, 20574 Komina Avenue, who expressed traffic concerns. He proposed that the City Council and Public Safety Commission express to the School District the need to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement that will include an updated traffic study to replace the study conducted last May, which he feels is not suitable for a proposal with concems of this magnitude. Page 3 of 5 Minutes for City Council February 9, 1999 Adjourned Regular Meeting/ Joint Meeting with Sheriff, Saratoga Fire District and Public Safety Commission Community Development Director Walgren commented that he has received this information fi'om Dr. Anderson and added that he will be compiling all of the comments received on this matter and include them in one response f~om the City to the School District's Notice of Intent. Discussion ensued regarding trees on site. Mayor Shaw stated for the record that it is the consensus of Council to support the preservation of the subject trees and to ask the School District to review their proposed plan to address traffic Concerns. Councilmember Baker stated for the record that he does not agree with the comments made by School District Boardmember Perry at the Council meeting of February 3~d when he advised the Council that the City's position to preserve the subject trees will cause a delay and result in additional costs to the school for which the City might be responsible. With CounciI's permission, PSC Chairman Lemon commented that the Commission will be submitting their comments regarding l~affic after their meeting on Thursday, for inclusion in the City's response to the School District. Director Walgren responded that comments must be received in the Planning Department by Friday, February 12 to allow staff time to compile and prepare the response to the School District by the deadline date of February 18. He further commented that all comments received by the District will be considered by the School District, who is the decision making body for the renovation project. With Council's permission, Jeff Schwartz concurred with concerus regarding traffic and provided additional comments regarding the proposed renovation project. Brigitte Bailingall spoke as a concerned parent and commented on safety issues revolving around the subject trees. Mayor Shaw commented thi~t the. PSC will review and address the project's safety concerns at their meeting on Thursday. 5. Self-evaluation of previous meeting: February 3 Councilmember Baker commented on the poor audio system in the Civic Theater. City Manager Perlin commented that he is currently looking at alternatives to improve the audio system in the Civic Theater and will be submitting a proposal to City Council in approximately 45 days. 6. Agency Assignment Reports Alternate Association of Bay Area Governments Mehaffey Chamber of Commerce Board Shaw County Cities Assn. Leg. Task Force Bogosian Baker County HCD Policy Committee Mehaffey Emergency Planning Council Baker Mehaffey Hakone Foundation Liaison Shaw KSAR Community Access TV Board Mehaffey Baker Library Joint Powers Agency Bogosian Streit Cent. Flood Cont. Zone Adv. Bd. Bogosian Mehaffey Penin. Div., League of Cat. Cities Bogosian Shaw Santa Clara Valley Water Commission Baker Bogosian Santa Clara County Cities Assn./ City Selection Committee Baker SASCC Liaison Streit Mehaffey Saratoga Business Dev. Council Mehaffey Streit Sister City Liaison Shaw West Valley Solid Waste JPA Streit Bogosian Valley Transportation Authority PAC Streit West Valley Sanitation District Baker Streit Councilmember Bogosian reported on discnssious of the County Cities Assn. Leg. Task Force including location of care facilities, Internet tax, animal control services. Councilmember Baker reported on discussions at his various agencies including Santa Clara County Cities Assn., City Selection Committee regarding Dina Moser fi'om Palo Alto, who is their sole nominee to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District; and the West Valley Sanitation Page 4 of 5 Minutes for City Council February 9, 1999 Adjourned Regular Meeting/ Joint Meeting with Sheriff, Saratoga Fire District and Public Safety Commission District regarding septic system abatement and an upcoming pilot project in Saratoga to deal with sewer system infiltration. Mayor Shaw reported that the Chamber of Commerce recently installed their new Board of Directors. 7. Other Councilmember Bogosian asked and City Manager Perlin replied he will bring back a progress report on the Hakone rental process at the next Council meeting. Councilmember Baker inquired about the Mt. Winery application with the County. Discussion ensued on the process and status of the project. Councilmember Bogosian commented that the City should be proactive on this matter. Councilmember Baker commented City Council's position on this matter should be forwarded to the County before their deadline in March. It was the consensus of Council to agendize the Mt. Winery item on March 3~a for Council update and thorough discussion. 8. Adjournment Mayor Shaw adjourned the meeting at 11:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted, City Clerk Page 5 of 5