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Page 1 of 2 SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: March 16, 2011 AGENDA ITEM: DEPARTMENT: City Manager’s Office CITY MANAGER: Dave Anderson PREPARED BY: Barbara Powell DIRECTOR: Assistant
City Manager SUBJECT: Comments on Proposed Changes to 408 Area Code RECOMMENDED ACTION: Accept report and authorize the Mayor to submit comments to the State of California Public Utilities
Commission (CPUC) concerning proposed changes to the 408 area code. REPORT SUMMARY: Recently, the City received a letter (Attachment #1) from John M. Leutza, Director, Communications
Division of the CPUC. The CPUC is seeking input concerning potential changes to the 408 area code. According to the CPUC website, there are a limited number of potential combinations
of prefixes that can be used with each area code. Even with the implementation of “telephone number conservation measures”, the potential combinations of prefixes that can be used with
the 408 area code are anticipated to be exhausted during the third quarter of 2012. Two options related to the 408 area code are being considered: 1. An “Overlay” (see attached map –
Alternative #1): Retains the same area code for currently assigned numbers Assigns a new area code – 669 – for new numbers within the same geographic area Requires dialing 1
+ the area code (either 408 or 669) with every call made 2. A “Split” (see attached map – Alternative #2) Splits a geographic region into new, smaller sub-regions Retains the existing
408 area code for one sub-region Assigns a new area code to the other sub-region The CPUC is holding public meetings about these options on March 16, 17 and 18. Times and locations
of the meetings are provided as the last page of Attachment #1. In addition, written comments about options for the 408 area code may be submitted to the CPUC. Mayor Joe Pirzynski, Town
of Los Gatos, is encouraging collective action by the West Valley Cities. Los Gatos sent a letter (Attachment #2) to the CPUC, expressing its preference to retain 408 as the split area
code for for the West Valley, Santa Clara and Downtown San Jose core of Silicon Valley. In the letter, Los Gatos stated its second preference would be the overlay approach, adding a
new area code covering all of the existing 408 area.
Page 2 of 2 Staff is requesting direction from the City Council about: 1. Whether you would like to authorize the Mayor to send a letter to the CPUC expressing the City’s preference
for one of the options proposed for the 408 area code; and 2. What option is preferred by the Council? If so directed, staff will prepare a letter for the Mayor’s signature. Staff will
be attending the Local Jurisdiction Meeting on March 16, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. in the San Jose City Hall Council Chambers, and will provide any additional updates that evening, at your March
16th meeting. FISCAL IMPACTS: Should the CPUC designate the 669 area code for Saratoga, there will be some staff time and material expenses associated with changing the area code on
official City correspondence, the website, and other materials referencing the area code. CONSEQUENCES OF NOT FOLLOWING RECOMMENDED ACTION: N/A ALTERNATIVE ACTION: The City Council could
decide not to send written comments to the CPUC concerning proposed changes to the 408 area code. FOLLOW UP ACTION: Undertake Council direction. ADVERTISING, NOTICING AND PUBLIC CONTACT:
Pursuant to Government Code 54954.2, this item was properly posted as a City Council agenda item and was included in the packet made available on the City’s website in advance of the
meeting. A copy of the agenda packet is also made available at the Saratoga Branch Library each Monday in advance of the Council meeting. ATTACHMENTS: Attachment 1: Letter from CPUC
(last page has community meeting dates/times) Attachment 2: Letter from Mayor Pirzynski to the CPUC