HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-13-1999 City Council Minutes MINUTES
SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL
TIME: Friday, August 13, 1999 - 8:00 a.m.
PLACE: Administration Conference Room, 13777 Fruitvale Avenue
TYPE: Special Meeting
The special meeting was called to order by Vice Mayor Bogosian at 8:05 a.m. in the
Administrative Conference Room.
1. Roll Call - Councilmembers Baker, Streit, Mehaffey, Vice Mayor Bogosian
Staff present: City Manager Perlin, City Clerk Ramos, Director of Administrative
Services Walker, Accounting Supervisor Galindo, Acting Public Works Director
Cherbone, Senior Administrative Analyst Jacobs, and Hilary Johns, staff intern.
2. Report of City Clerk on Posting of Agenda - City Clerk Ramos reported that
pursuant to Government Code 54954.2, the agenda for this meeting was properly posted
on August 11, 1999.
3. Oral Communications from the Public on Non-Agendized items - None
4. Meeting with State Senator Byron Sher
Vice Mayor Bogosian thanked Sen. Sher and his assistant, Mike Potter, for
accommodating the City's request and asked the pleasure of the Council and staff. City
Manager Perlin asked for updates from Sacramento.
a. General Overview of the 1999 State Legislative Session
b. Update on the FY 99-00 State Budget
c. State-local long term fiscal relationship
· ERAF
· Stabilization of local revenue sources
· Speaker's Commission on State-Local Government Finance
d. SB 402 (Burton) Compulsory and Binding Arbitration for Public Safety
Employees
e. TEA Restoration for Santa Clara qualifying cities
f. SB 3(Rainey) Statewide Library Bond Measure on the 2000 Ballot
g. Update on Senate Select Committee on Bay Area Transportation
h. SB 739 (Soils) Local Government Collective Bargaining - (PERB)
i. AB 84 (Granlund)
j. AB 83 (Cardenas) Home based businesses - exemption from certain taxes
k. Internet Tax Issues
Sen. Sher expressed his condolences to the Council and staff for Mayor Shaw's passing
and provided a comprehensive report which included the following:
· Change in leadership (Governor Davis)
· 13% of State positions unfilled due to vacant appointed positions (pending
appointment by the Governor)
· Good, sound budget was passed in a timely manner
· State will take over costs to mn the court system - this will benefit the Santa
Clara County
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Minutes of Special Meeting August 13, 1999
~vith Sen. Byron Sher
· Subcommittee instituted to help restore the Heritage Theater in Campbell -
which is available to neighboring cities
· Government efforts towards education (Gary Hart instrumental in refining
educational bills):
· School accountability
· Performance goals and ratings
· Exit exam for outgoing seniors
· Peer review of teachers
· Reading literacy bill
· Some pending bills after the summer session:
· Reformulated gasoline
· HMO reform
In response to City Manager Perlin, Senator Sher replied that the League of California
Cities serves as the various cities' representatives to actively and aggressively pursue
certain legislative bills. He feels there is no communication problem between cities and
the State and that attention is given to the letters that are received from various City
Council.
Discusssion'ensued regarding term limits, political parties ~md the initiative process.
In response to Vice Mayor Bogosian regarding revenue generation, Sen. Sher commented
regarding property tax shill.
Discussion ensued. Sen. Sher noted that a County unified and solidarity approach to this
issue may received some attention and sympathy in the State and indicated he would help
as much as he can.
Sen. Sher commented that there will be a major re-evaluation next year regarding ERAF.
Discussion ensued regarding various legislation. The following were Sen. Sher's
comments:
· Support the statewide library bond measure
· Support Cal train but he is currently working on talking to Caltrans about some
concerns and trouble spots in the area
· Oppose AB 84 (Granlund)
· Not been able to review AB83 regarding home based businesses, but to pay attention
to it.
· Supports AB 236 (forgiveness loan). The County and Saratoga Fire Districts will
benefit fi:om this.
· Internet tax is a nationwide issue and there is a 3-year moratorium on taxing e-
commerce. He supports e-commerce and this type of internet activity but feels
consideration should be placed on the traditional and :non traditional ways of doing
business.
· Support AB 18 (bond issue on parks and open spaces).
5; Adjournment - The special meeting was adjourned at 9:45 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
City Clerk
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