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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-18-2009 Supplemental Council AgendaCALL MEETING TO ORDER 5:30 P.M. COMMUNICATIONS FROM PUBLIC AGENDA SPECIAL MEETING SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL NOVEMBER 18, 2009 SPECIAL MEETING —5:30 P.M. ADMINISTRATIVE CONFERENCE ROOM, 13777 FRUITVALE AVENUE. REPORT OF CITY CLERK ON POSTING OF AGENDA (Pursuant to Gov't. Code 54954.2, the agenda for this meeting was properly posted on November 12, 2009) Oral Communications on Non Agendized Items Any member of the public will be allowed to address the City Council for up to three minutes on matters not on this agenda. The law generally prohibits the council from discussing or taking action on such items. However, the Council may instruct staff accordingly regarding Oral Communications under Council Direction to Staff. Oral Communications Council Direction to Staff Instruction to Staff regarding actions on current Oral Communications. CLOSED SESSION— 5:30 P.M. ADMINISTRATIVE CONFERENCE ROOM, 13777 FRUITVALE AVENUE. ANNOUNCEMENT OF CLOSED SESSION CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL Exposure to Litigation: Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9 (b) (1 potential case) CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL Threatened Litigation: Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9 (b) (1 potential case) ADJOURNED TO CLOSED SESSION 1 (3) OPEN SESSION 6:00 P.M. ADMINISTRATIVE CONFERENCE ROOM —13777 FRUITVALE AVENUE. CALL JOINT MEETING TO ORDER 6:00 P.M. 1. Joint Meeting with the Hakone Foundation Recommended Action: Informational only. ADJOURNMENT In accordance with the Ralph M. Brown Act, copies of the staff reports and other materials provided to the City Council by City staff in connection with this agenda are available at the office of the Community Development Department Director at 13777 Fruitvale Avenue, Saratoga, CA 95070. Note that copies of materials distributed to the City Council concurrently with the posting of the agenda are also available on the City Website at www.saratoga.ca.us. Any materials distributed by staff after the posting of the agenda are made available for public review at the office of the City Clerk at the time they are distributed to the City Council. In Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the City Clerk at 408/868 -1269. Notification 24 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting. [28 CFR 35.102- 35.104 ADA title III Certificate of Posting of Agenda: I, Ann Sullivan, City Clerk for the City of Saratoga, declare that the foregoing agenda for the meeting of the City Council for the City of Saratoga was posted on November 12, 2009, at the City of Saratoga, 13777 Fruitvale Ave., Saratoga, CA 95070 and was available for public review at that location. The agenda is also available on the City's website at www.saratoga.ca.us Signed this 12`" day of November 2009 at Saratoga, California. Ann Sullivan, CMC City Clerk City Clerk [Ann Sullivan] From: Cynthia McCormick Sent: Monday, November 16, 2009 11:17 AM To: City Council Cc: City Clerk [Ann Sullivan]; Dave Anderson; John Livingstone; Christopher Riordan; Jonathan Wittwer; Richard S. Taylor Subject: Noticing of Public Hearing (FYI do not reply all) Dear Council Members, As we discussed at today's Site Visit, there was an error in the notices that went out by mail to all property owners within 500 feet of 20398 Blauer Drive. The mailed notice indicated that the site visit was Tuesday at 9:00 a.m. (rather than Monday). However, the date and time for the Public Hearing was correct. I spoke with Jonathan Wittwer who also consulted with Richard Taylor who indicated that the site visit notification is "purely a courtesy" and the error in the mailed notices should not be a legal issue. Please note that the Newspaper notification does not mention the site visit since it is not required to notice the site visit. The agenda for both meetings was also properly posted on the City's website and at City Hall. I also personally spoke with 5 neighbors prior to the site visit to let them know about the error. I also left voice mail for two other neighbors. There were several neighbors in attendance this morning and I will be onsite tomorrow morning just in case anyone else shows up. I will report back to the Council on Wednesday if anyone shows and if there are any comments made on Tuesday morning. Please call me if you have any questions. Sincerely, Cindy McCormick 408 868 -1230 City of Saratoga 13777 Fruitvale Avenue Saratoga, CA 95070 RE: CUP 09 -0004: 20398 Blauer Drive Addressed to: The Planning Commission Members 7 I am a resident of Saratoga and have been since 1960. The aforementioned Day Care Center that is being considered borders most of my backyard property at 13035 Regan Lane. The last few years have been a headache with the pres owners of the property on Blauer Drive. Not so with the bu sse enting the Property. I have reported the existence of a fire hazard to the Fire Marshal regarding the trash, dead limbs, and dry needles that have been collecting for the last few years (3 or 4) against the fence in the back of the building. I am 82 years old and I try to keep my small orchard in the back free of dry material as requested by the fire departments, etc. The present owner has not responded in any way to do the same. To make this short, what can we expect in the way of cooperation from this person if other problems arise such as the following: 1. The traffic is already bad at the corner of Regan Lane with people not stopping at all at the four way stop, speeding around the corner and up Regan Lane. What can we expect when 50 or more cars will be standing leaving o fLand� picking up childraV Our subdivision is already the feeder for all of the neighboring areas with all the traffic using Regan Lane!and not obeying the traffic laws. The situation can only get worse with standing traffic and it will present a real safety issue with the trucks servicing the stores at Argonaut.---6 2. When and if I can no longer reside in my home will the town of Saratoga give me a tax reduction since my property value will certainly be devalued as a result of the noise and congestion ensuing from this plan? 3. With the lack of regard from the present traffic users, all of this traffic will most assuredly spill over into the residential area of Argonaut Place. 4. It absolutely astounds me that such a situation as this is all right as long as it happens in someone else's neighborhood. The reason most of us purchased our homes is for the intrinsic value represented by that purchase. For all of the reasons above I implore you to reject the Condition Use Permit for the daycare center at 20298 Blauer Drive. Thank you, Margaret B. Towns I /02. _3 a../71 Oct. 9, 2009 13035 Regan Lane Saratoga, CA 95070 Phone: 867 -9786 November 17, 2009 Cynthia McCormick and Ann Sullivan, City Clerk City of Saratoga City Council 13777 Fruitvale Ave. Saratoga, CA 95070 Application Address: CUP09- 0004 /20398 Blauer Dr. Applicant: Julia 1- Iashemieh APN: 393 -02 -005 Dear Members of the Planning Commission and City Council, We oppose the operation of a new day care facility in an existing 5,000 square foot building formerly occupied by office uses in our residential neighborhood. We do not want a Conditional Use Permit granted for this type of activity for the following reasons: 1. It appears that the applicant is not licensed by the State of California to operate a child care center. 2. It was evident at the public hearing before the Planning Commission, which I attended in person, that the applicant has no clear knowledge about the laws and regulations, student/teacher ratios, and general operating needs of a center. It is also still not clear what ages of children the center would serve. Also, we do not believe the outdoor space is adequate to meet the playground needs of 56 children. 3. Traffic and Noise: Operating hours of 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. would cause significantly increased traffic and noise at the location during drop -off and pick -up times. The location of the property is already very congested with commuters, parents dropping students at Argonaut Elementary School, and Starbuck's coffee visitors, plus huge Safeway delivery trucks, making it an unsafe area for young children to be. 4. Parking: There is inadequate parking at the proposed site. 14 spaces for proposal of 56 students (56 cars per day, twice a day PLUS full -time parking for 5 employees) will certainly not meet the needs and will result in unsafe overflow parking on Blauer Drive and Regan Lane and the Argonaut Shopping Center across the street. 5. Safety: We are concerned about adequate safety for children if they are playing in an area in front of the property with only a 3 -foot fence. 6. Original Use of Property: We would like the property to be continued to be used for offices, not a congested, noisy, unsafe, child care center. Sincerely cere y yours, Ix— 41 Jan d John ewart 1 304 Regan L. ne Saratog. 070 a4f-e-,AJ cuLl SARATOGA LIONS CLUB HOLIDAY DINNER DANCE JOIN US FOR A BEAUTIFUL EVENING OF DINING AND DANCING.... FUN AND ENTERTAINMENT Friday Dec 11, 2009 Fellowship Hall North Campus 19484 Prospect Road, Saratoga 6pm Appetizers Wine 7 -8pm Dinner Dinner music will be provided by Saratoga High Musicians 8 -10pm DJ for Dancing Entertainment Silent Auction, Door Prizes Tickets: Nesli Yilmaz nyilmaz @apr.com 439 -9789 Elaine Clabeaux eac @pacbell.net 252 -7243 A 501C3 non profit club TICKETS $45. RESERVED TABLE FOR EIGHT $365 TICKET DEADLINE DEC 1. This event will support Charities in our Community. Page 2 of 4 6:30 7:30 p.m. Reception: Appetizers, Dessert, Wine, er Champagne 7:30 8:30 p.m.: Manuel Kamero performs! J oan Pisani Community Senior Center 19 655 Allendale Ave., Sarato CA 95070 Get your tickets in advance at the Senior Center front desk. Advance. Ticket sales $35 for adults 8, $1 5 for children (i 0 6, under) Cost at door: $40 for Adults 8 $20 for children For Jnfn: 408 -868 -1 257 11/17/2009 Marketing C October 2009 Autumn Opera Press and publicity Sign and lighting Donor cultivation Upcoming ideas 3 1/2 month project Small marketing committee Huge success More than 125 attendees 15 complimentary passes 105 paid guests Profit: $9,000 Significant donor cultivation results Video project big results! atifleglibet kn ;erica ION i etkrn tread Mav* yn ero w.b.l4rkget to 41* a ono Jehcutn cis Br, lath. DOW merlin Memos Pf ha/Mau wel1&dii Three press releases /media alerts Featured coverage in SJMN (once /month), Gentry Magazine, Saratoga Times, Los Gatos Times, Image Magazine, ArtsOpolis, Inside Bay Area Upcoming feature in Portland Japanese Garden's website Featured Garden Photos and text New members New donors Anecdotal evidence from SF event Multiple meetings to determine options for s Field trip to view alternative materials Investigated lighting alternatives Determined that solar will work for now Installed four solar lights on existing sign Plans moving forward Sign committee meeting in November November 18, 2009 Hakone/ City Council Meeting Hakone Programs: A) February Visit with the Ogata Kai Japanese Landscape Architects a. Constructed traditional entrance stone steps to the pond and bridge area. b. Rebuilt the Tea Garden into the Lower House. c. These 12 expert Japanese Landscape Architects came from throughout Japan d. Their accommodations were supported by Saratoga's Sister City Org. e. Ogata Kai paid for their own transportation and provided over $100,000 in pro bono in -kind assistance. B) May 17, 2009 Hakone's 10 Annual Japan Festival (Matsuri) i. Raised over $36,000 this year 1. $23,000.00 from our Corporate Affiliate Members 2. $13,142 .00 raised on the Festival Day C) September 11, 2009 2 Annual "Opera in the Gardens" i. Raised over $9,000.00 in net income ii. Over 150 attendees, up 20% from the initial year D) October 18, 2009 DaiChaikai (Grand Tea Cermony) a. Raised over $6,000 with over 200 visitors and participants E) November 6, 2009 Muko -Shi, Japan/Saratoga Sister City's 25 Anniversary Hakone Discussion Items: Request to establish a four year time frame for challenge grant for Hakone's Visitors Center. o Hakone has the capacity to establish a reserve fund of at Least $200K to help launch the campaign once final drawings are complete. Final Drawings and the Master Plan should be available by the September of 2010. o An annual report will be provided to the City of Saratoga. All the details for the water well have been submitted and Kevin Meek is now prepared to put out bids for a Design and Build system. o Hakone reconstructed the Lower Pond this past Spring o During the busy season of Spring/Summer /Autumn Hakone has been treating the City Water so that it would not harm the delicate koi and ecosystems of both ponds. All plans have been submitted in preparation for an RFP for the $120,000 grant to restore the Lower House. A 20% requirement to comply with ADA has also been included. Visitors Center Planning Process Hakone was successful in recruiting Paul Discoe to guide the the Visitors Center Task Force and draw plans on a Pro Bono Basis. o Paul Discoe was the Architect and Builder who constructed Larry Ellison's $275 million Japanese Estate in Woodside. Hakone will comply with all the codes and requirements for the Decorative Wall being constructed at the entrance on Big Basin Way. Hakone will establish a $25,000 liability reserve for our ABAG insurance. On Hakone's website (www.Hakone.us) and (www.Hakone.com), under the VISIT US tab, it reads as follows: Special Hakone Access for Saratoga Residents On every first Tuesday of January, April, July, and October, Saratoga Residents and their guests are welcome to Hakone on a free admission basis (free parking is included) during regular operating hours. When entering Hakone, Saratoga residents are requested to provide an identification showing that they currently reside within the City of Saratoga. Hakone will also place this notice under the calendar section so it is readily available to Saratoga Residents. Hakone will also issue Press Alerts to the media to notify them of Saratoga Resident's Special Access.