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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-04-1998 Staff Reports r SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL EXECUTIVE SUMMARY NO. U (A AGENDA ITEM S gj Ca) MEETING DATE: November 4, 1998 ORIGINATING DEPT.: City Clerk C ITY MGR. APPROVAL Am-4 j 44 SUBJECT: Resolution Declarin g Growing Weeds Growin on Certain Described Property to be a Public Nuisance and Setting Public Hearing Recommended Motion: Adopt resolution. Report Summary: The attached resolution represents the first step in Saratoga's annual weed abatement program administered by the County Fire Marshal. The County has determined that the parcels in Saratoga on the attached list have excessive weed growth which is a fire hazard or otherwise noxious or dangerous. The Council should pass the resolution setting the public hearing for weed abatement December 2 this year. Fiscal Impacts: None to City. County recovers its costs from administrative portion of fee charged to property owners. Follow Up Actions: The County sends the owners of the parcels notices informing them that the weeds must be abated, either by the owners or by the County; when County abatement will commence; and how they may present any objections at the public hearing. The public hearing is noticed in the newspapers as well. After the public hearing, the Council passes another resolution ordering abatement on properties whose owners did not object or whose objections the Council felt were invalid. The final steps take place next summer, when the County presents the Council with a list of properties whose abatement bills have not been paid, and the Council, after hearing any objections, passes a resolution declaring liens on those properties. Consequences of Not Acting on the Recommended Motions: Weed abatement could not be performed by the County. It would be necessary to depend upon property owners to take care of their own abatement. Attachments: 1. Resolution (1 i st of parcels to be forwarded from County) SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL EXECUTIVE SUMMARY NO. 5 AGENDA ITEM 6 S MEETING DATE: November 4, 1998 CITY MANAGER: to 1. ORIGINATING DEPT: Administrative Services DEPT. HEAD: hi A f ILIJK SUBJECT: Agreement to Provide Auditing Services for Fiscal Years 1997 -98 and 1998 -99 RECOMMENDED MOTION(S): Approve the agreement for auditing services between the City of Saratoga and Maze and Associates Accountancy Corporation (Maze) for fiscal years 1997 -98 and 1998 -99. REPORT SUMMARY: In February 1993, a five year proposal from Maze for auditing services was approved by the City Council. Maze conducted the audit and prepared the financial statements and other reports for each year of the five year period from fiscal years ended June 30, 1993, through June 30, 1997. Fiscal year 1997 -98 is the first audit after the new HTE financial system was implemented, and as such, there is significant advantage in having continuity of accounting firms both before and after the implementation. We are therefore requested that the agreement for auditing services be extended for two more years. Since we are simply extending an existing agreement, we are not required to competitively bid the contract at this time. After the fiscal year 1998 -99 audit is completed, the City would be in position to begin a competitive bidding process for a new audit contract starting in fiscal year 1999 -2000, should it choose to do so. The contract amount for fiscal year 1997 -98 of $43,749 is just $500 higher than the contract amount for the previous fiscal year. The second year of the two year agreement totals $45,587, which is approximately a 4% increase. These fees are competitive in the industry, considering the additional work that will need to be done as a result of auditing a new financial system. FISCAL IMPACTS: Sufficient funds have been appropriated in both fiscal years for these services. ADVERTISING, NOTICING AND PUBLIC CONTACT: Posting of the agenda serves as notice to the general public. CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ACTING ON RECOMMENDED MOTION(S): The performance of an annual audit by an independent certified public accounting firm is not only good financial management, but explicitly required by numerous regulations and covenants. The consequences of not doing this would result in non compliance with bond agreements, banking regulations, granting agency regulations, and our fiduciary responsibility to the citizens of Saratoga. FOLLOW UP ACTIONS: Execute the agreement for auditing services between the City of Saratoga and Maze and Associates Accountancy Corporation for fiscal years 1997 -98 and 1998 -99. ATTACHMENTS: Agreement between the City of Saratoga and Maze and Associates Accountancy Corporation AuditContractReport 2 I SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL EXECUTIVE SUMMARY NO. 30 AGENDA ITEM S 6 MEETING DATE: NOVEMBER 4, 1998 CITY MANAGER: i, I: ORIGINATING DEPT.: PUBLIC WORKS DEPT. HEAD: SUBJECT: MV Resolution Prohibiting U Turns on Fruitvale Avenue RECOMMENDED MOTION(S): Move to adopt the MV Resolution prohibiting U -turns on Fruitvale Avenue at median opening in front of Redwood School. REPORT SUMMARY: At its April, 1998 Meeting, the Saratoga Public Safety Commission recommended the prohibition of U -turns at the median opening in front of Redwood School and the Main Entrance to West Valley College. This median opening becomes very congested when Redwood School is receiving and releasing studentswith vehicles leaving the school and weaving over to access the median opening to make a U- turn in a very short distance(200'), while at the same time West Valley students are making their left turn into the College. The vehicles leaving Redwood School would be able go south on Fruitvale Avenue approximately one quarter mile to the median opening at Athletics Way to make their U -turn, if the proposed U -turn prohibition is established. FISCAL IMPACTS: Approximately $250.00 in labor and materials for the City to install the signs. Funds for this expense would come from the Traffic Control Budget. ADVERTISING, NOTICING, AND PUBLIC CONTACT: Redwood School, West Valley College and the Sheriff's Department should be notified of the proposed U -turn prohibition. CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ACTING ON RECOMMENDED MOTION(S): The Resolution would not be adopted and the intersection would remain as is, FOLLOW UP ACTIONS: A work order will be issued to install the signs. ATTACHMENTS: Motor Vehicle Resolution and location map.