HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-02-2012 City Council minutes MINUTES
SARATOGA SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MAY 2,2012
The City Council held a Joint Meeting with the Saratoga Youth Commission at 6:00 p.m.
in the Administrative Conference Room in the City Manager's Office.
SARATOGA REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MAY 2,2012
Mayor Page called the meeting to order at 7:06 p.m. and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT Council Members Manny Cappello, Howard Miller, Emily Lo,
Vice Mayor Jill Hunter, Mayor Chuck Page
ABSENT: None
ALSO PRESENT: Dave Anderson, City Manager
Richard Taylor, City Attorney
Crystal Morrow, City Clerk
John Cherbone, Public Works Director
Mary Furey, Finance and Administrative Services Director
James Lindsay, Community Development Director
Michael Taylor, Recreation and Facilities Director
Adam Henig, Recreation Supervisor
Cynthia McCormick, Assistant Planner
Michael Fossati, Assistant Planner
REPORT OF CITY CLERK ON POSTING OF AGENDA
City Clerk Crystal Morrow reported that pursuant to Gov't. Code 54954.2,the agenda for
this meeting was properly posted on April 26, 2012.
REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSION
Mayor Page reported that there was no closed session and consequently nothing to report.
COMMUNICATIONS FROM COMMISSIONS & PUBLIC
Youth Commission Chair Kia Fariba provided an overview of the Youth Commission's
Joint Meeting with the City Council, including a summary of the Youth Commission's
recent accomplishments and the transitions that the Commission has made in the last 6
years.
The Council thanked Youth Commissioner Fariba for his service and leadership on the
Youth Commission and congratulated him on his acceptance to the University of
California, Berkeley.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Council Member Cappello shared that on May 3, 2012, the Chamber will be hosting a
mixer at the Cooper Garrod Estate Vineyards. He invited Saratoga residents and
businesses to attend.
Council Member Miller asked the City Clerk to announce where voters can drop off their
vote by mail ballots for the May 8, 2012 Special Election.
City Clerk Crystal Morrow stated that the vote by mail ballots may be dropped off at City
Hall during regular business hours, at the Registrar of Voters' 24-hour drop box located
in the parking lot of the Registrar of Voters' Office in San Jose, or at Saratoga City Hall
on Election Day until 8:00 p.m.
Council Member Miller announced openings in the City of Saratoga Recreation
Department's summer camps. More information is available in the Saratoga Recreation
Activity Guide or online at www.saratoga.ca.us/recreation.
Council Member Lo reminded the public that the Saratoga Library will be closed May 7
through May 14 due to flooring repairs. During that time,the book drop will be closed.
Library patrons can visit other Santa Clara County libraries during the Saratoga Library
closure.
Mayor Page announced that the City of Saratoga is currently accepting applications for
the Youth Commission. Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on May 17, 2012.
CEREMONIAL ITEMS
1. Proclamation Declaring May 6— 12, 2012 as Wildfire Awareness Week
Recommended action:
Read and present proclamation declaring May 6— 12, 2012 as Wildfire Awareness
Week in the City of Saratoga.
Mayor Page presented the proclamation to Bob Livengood, Executive Director of the
Santa Clara County FireSafe Council.
2. Foster Care Appreciation Month
Recommended action:
Read and present proclamation declaring May 2012 as Foster Care Appreciation
Month.
Mayor Page presented the Foster Care Appreciation Month proclamation to Kathleen
Vithanage and her 2 daughters.
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
None
CONSENT CALENDAR
3. City Council Meeting Minutes
Recommended action:
Approve City Council Meeting minutes.
MILLER/LO MOVED TO APPROVE THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MINUTES. MOTION PASSED 5-0-0.
4. Review of Accounts Payable Check Registers
Recommended action:
Review and accept check registers for the following accounts payable payment
cycles:
April 19, 2012
April 25, 2012
MILLER/LO MOVED TO ACCEPT CHECK REGISTERS FOR THE
FOLLOWING ACCOUNTS PAYABLE PAYMENT CYCLES:
APRIL 19, 2012
APRIL 25, 2012
MOTION PASSED 5-0-0.
5. Treasurer's Report for the Month Ended March 31, 2012
Recommended action:
Review and accept the Treasurer's Report for the month ended March 31, 2012.
MILLER/LO MOVED TO ACCEPT THE TREASURER'S REPORT FOR THE
MONTH ENDED MARCH 31, 2012. MOTION PASSED 5-0-0.
6. Granting of Utility Easement to PG&E on Book-Go-Round Property
Recommended action:
1. Approve granting of utility easement on City-owned Book-Go-Round property to
PG&E.
2. Authorize City Manager to sign the Easement Deed.
MILLER/LO MOVED TO:
1. APPROVE GRANTING OF UTILITY EASEMENT ON CITY-OWNED
BOOK-GO-ROUND PROPERTY TO PG&E.
2. AUTHORIZE CITY MANAGER TO SIGN THE EASEMENT DEED
MOTION PASSED 5-0-0.
7. Fruitvale Avenue Median Improvements—Cooperative Agreement with West Valley
College
Recommended action:
Approve Cooperative Agreement with West Valley-Mission Community College
District for Fruitvale Avenue Median Improvements and authorize the City Manager
to execute the same.
Vice Mayor Hunter removed this item from Consent to request additional information
about the Fruitvale Avenue Median Improvements.
Public Works Director John Cherbone answered questions regarding the location of
the medians to be landscaped and funding for the project.
Marjan Fariba spoke about efforts to raise funds to landscape the median just past
South College Circle.
HUNTER/CAPPELLO MOVED TO APPROVE COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT
WITH WEST VALLEY-MISSION COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT
FOR FRUITVALE AVENUE MEDIAN IMPROVEMENTS AND
AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE SAME. MOTION
PASSED 5-0-0.
8. AB 939 and Household Hazardous Collection Program Agreements
Recommended action:
Authorize the City Manager to sign the Agreement for Countywide Assembly Bill
(AB) 939 Implementation Fee and Santa Clara County Household Hazardous Waste
(HHW) Collection Program Agreement with a$50,000 augmentation for Fiscal Year
2012/13.
MILLER/LO MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO SIGN
THE AGREEMENT FOR COUNTYWIDE ASSEMBLY BILL (AB) 939
IMPLEMENTATION FEE AND SANTA CLARA COUNTY HOUSEHOLD
HAZARDOUS WASTE (HHW) COLLECTION PROGRAM AGREEMENT
WITH A $50,000 AUGMENTATION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2012/13. MOTION
PASSED 5-0-0.
9. Zoning Amendment- Sign Ordinance (Article 15-30)
Recommended action:
Staff recommends the Council waive the Second Reading and adopt the Ordinance
amending the Zoning Regulations related to Signs.
Council Member Miller removed this item from the Consent Calendar to make a
clarification regarding banner signs at Congress Springs Park and thank the Planning
Commission for its work on the sign ordinance.
Vice Mayor Hunter requested clarification regarding flag pole regulations in the
ordinance and allowable sizes of internally illuminated signs in the Village.
Council Member Lo also requested clarification on legal, non-conforming signs.
Community Development Director James Lindsay addressed Council questions
regarding the sign ordinance.
Vice Mayor Hunter asked that it be noted in the minutes that she would be voting in
favor of adopting the sign ordinance with the understanding that the sign regulations
would be brought before Council in 1-year for review, but has reservations about
regulations for signage in the Village and long-term impacts of these new regulations
on the Village.
MILLER/CAPPELLO MOVED TO WAIVE THE SECOND READING AND
ADOPT THE ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING REGULATIONS
RELATED TO SIGNS. MOTION PASSED 5-0-0.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
10. Appeal of Design Review& Variance Approval for a New Single-Family Residence
at 21216 Bank Mill Road
Recommended action:
Deny the appeal,thus affirming the Planning Commission's approval of the design
review variance applications.
Community Development Department Assistant Planner Michael Fossati provided a
staff report to Council. He shared a revised resolution denying the appeal subject to
one condition that would mitigate privacy concerns of the appellant.
Mayor Page invited the appellant, James Maggard, to speak.
The appellant, James Maggard , shared that he appealed the Planning Commission's
Design Review and Variance Approval due to privacy concerns. He added that
revised resolution presented by staff addresses his concerns, but he would like the
height dimensions of shrubs in Condition 20, Step 3 of the Conditions of Approval to
be stricken.
Mayor Page invited the applicant to speak.
Stan Neilsen of Neilsen Architects spoke on behalf of the applicant. He indicated that
the applicant is agreeable to the revised resolution and conditions of approval.
Mayor Page invited public comment on the item.
Yongjian Wu of 14633 Ambric Knolls Road spoke and requested additional privacy
screening between his property and the property at 21216 Bank Mill Road.
No one else requested to speak on the item.
Mayor Page invited the applicant to make his closing remarks.
Stan Neilsen reiterated that the applicant is happy with the revised resolution.
Mayor Page invited the appellant to make closing remarks.
James Maggard,the appellant, added that he is also happy with the intent of the
resolution. Although he prefers to have the height specifications of the shrubbery in
Condition 20, Step 3 of the Conditions of Approval removed, he is still agreeable to
the resolution if it remains.
Mayor Page closed the public hearing.
CAPPELLO/MILLER MOVED TO DENY THE APPEAL AND APPROVE THE
AMENDED RESOLUTION WITH ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS FOR
PRIVACY SCREENING. MOTION PASSED 5-0-0.
OLD BUSINESS
11. Community Event Grant Program
Recommended action:
Accept report and provide input on the Community Event Grant Program.
City Clerk Crystal Morrow provided a staff report on the Community Event Grant
program.
Mayor Page invited public comment on the item.
No one requested to speak.
MILLER/CAPPELLO MOVED TO ESTABLISH AN APPLICATION
TIMELINE FOR THE COMMUNITY EVENT GRANT PROGRAM AS
DESCRIBED IN THE STAFF REPORT WITH THE PROVISION THAT THE
APPLICATION TIMELINE WOULD START EARLIER IN THE YEAR FOR
THE 2013/12 FISCAL YEAR,PERMIT GRANT FUNDS TO BE USED FOR
EVENT MATERIALS, SUPPLIES, CONTRACT SERVICES,PERMITS,
CITY FEES, AND OTHER HARD COSTS,AND ALLOCATE FUNDS ON A
REIMBURSEMENT BASIS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF CITY-RELATED
EXPENSES. MOTION PASSED 5-0-0.
NEW BUSINESS
12. Destination Saratoga Update & Funding Request
Recommended action:
Receive the update from the Chamber of Commerce's Destination Saratoga
Committee and consider their funding request.
Peggy Wynne Borgman, owner of Preston Wynn, provided an update on the status of
the Chamber of Commerce's citywide branding effort called Destination Saratoga.
She also asked the Council to invest $6,000 to $8,000 to the branding effort.
Mayor Page invited public comment on the item.
No one requested to speak.
CAPPELLO/LO MOVED TO APPROVE AN ALLOCATION OF $8,000 FROM
THE COUNCIL DISCRETIONARY FUND TO DESTINATION SARATOGA.
MOTION PASSED 5-0-0.
13. Solid Waste Program Consolidation
Recommended action:
Accept report and provide direction on consolidation of solid waste program costs.
City Clerk Crystal Morrow provided a staff report on the item.
Council Member Miller added that he asked that this item be brought before the
Council for discussion. As the City's representative on the West Valley Solid Waste
Management Authority (WVSWMA) Board of Directors, he wanted to seek Council
input before voting on potential changes to customer rates.
Mayor page invited public comment.
No one requested to speak.
Council provided input on the addition of WVSMA dues, household hazardous waste
program fees, and street sweeping to the solid waste rates.
ADHOC & AGENCY ASSIGNMENT REPORTS
Mayor Chuck Page
West Valley Mayors and Managers Association—the group met with Assembly Member
Jim Beall, State Senator Joe Simitian, Assembly Member Paul Fong, and a representative
of Assembly Member Rich Gordon about Assembly Bill 1816.
West Valley Sanitation District—Mayor Page noted that the Sanitation District named the
assistant director as the interim director. Recruitment for a new director is underway.
Additionally, there will be a slight increase in the sewage rates.
Vice Mayor Jill Hunter
Historical Foundation—at the last Historical Foundation meeting,the group discussed
repainting the museum exterior.
SASCC—SASCC will be holding a Cinco de Mayo lunch featuring Manuel Romero.
Village Ad Hoc—the Village Ad Hoc met with David Gates to discuss the design plans
for the second phase of Village pedestrian safety and streetscape improvements.
Council Member Emily Lo
Library Joint Powers Authority—Melinda Cervantes has retired. Nancy Howe will be the
acting County Librarian until the position is filled permanently. At the last JPA meeting,
the County Library budget was reviewed.
Council Member Howard Miller
Council Finance Committee—the Finance Committee met before the May 2, 2012 City
Council Meeting to discuss the proposed Fiscal Year 2012/13 Budget.
Saratoga Ministerial Association—Reverend Eric Swanson has stepped down as head of
the Saratoga Ministerial Association after several years of leading the group.
West Valley Solid Waste Management Joint Powers Authority—the Authority Board is
meeting May 3, 2012.
Council Member Manny Cappello
Chamber of Commerce—the Chamber is working on a variety of things, including some
upcoming events and Destination Saratoga.
Council Finance Committee—the Finance Committee met before the May 2, 2012
Santa Clara County Emergency Council—the next meeting is May 3, 2012.
CITY COUNCIL ITEMS
None
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
None
ADJOURNMENT
MILLER/HUNTER MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 10:22 P.M.
MOTION PASSED 5-0-0.
Minutes respectfully submitted:
1k�4 ro vJ Cry CIAJZTAI 1 Morrow, City Clerk