HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-18-2013 City Council meeting MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18,2013
SARATOGA SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
The City Council held Closed Session at 5:30 p.m. in the Administrative Conference
Room at City Hall at 13777 Fruitvale Avenue. At 5:45 p.m., the Council conducted
interviews for the Traffic Safety Commission. At 6:00 p.m., the Council called to order
the Joint Meeting with the West Valley College, including the College President, West
Valley-Mission Community College District Board of Trustees, and West Valley-Mission
Community College District Chancellor.
SARATOGA REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Mayor Hunter called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT Council Members Manny Cappello, Howard Miller, Vice Mayor
Emily Lo, Mayor Jill Hunter
ABSENT: Council Member Chuck Page
ALSO PRESENT: Dave Anderson, City Manager
Richard Taylor, City Attorney
Crystal Bothelio, 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
Christopher Riordan, Senior Planner
Brian Babcock, Administrative Analyst I
Debbie Bretschneider, Deputy City Clerk
REPORT OF CITY CLERK ON POSTING OF AGENDA
City Clerk Crystal Bothelio reported that pursuant to Gov't. Code 54954.2, the agenda for
this meeting was properly posted on September 12, 2013.
REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSION
Mayor Hunter stated that there was nothing to report from Closed Session.
COMMUNICATIONS FROM COMMISSIONS & PUBLIC
Oral Communications on Non-Agendized Items
None
Oral Communications - Council Direction to Staff
None
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Communications from Boards and Commissions
Brad Davis, President of West Valley College, provided an overview of the Council's
Joint Meeting with the West Valley College Board of Trustees. He also noted the great
partnership between West Valley College and the City of Saratoga.
The Council thanked Brad Davis and the College for being such great partners in the
community.
Council Direction to Staff
None
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Hunter announced that the City is accepting applications for the Heritage
Preservation Commission. Applications are due November 21, 2013. The City is also
accepting applications for the Parks and Recreation Commission with applications due
October 8, 2013 and the Library Commission with applications due October 29, 2013.
She then announced that Heritage Day will be on September 28, 2013 from noon to 4:00
p.m. in the Village. The event will feature 25 to 30 people dressed as historical figures
from Saratoga's past. The event is free and open to the public and a great way to learn
about Saratoga history.
CEREMONIAL ITEMS
1. Appointment of Library Commissioner and Oath of Office
Recommended action:
Adopt the attached resolution appointing Linda Baxter to the Library Commission as
the City of Monte Sereno representative and direct the City Clerk to administer the
Oath of Office.
RESOLUTION NO. 13-062
MILLER/CAPPELLO MOVED TO ADOPT THE ATTACHED RESOLUTION
APPOINTING LINDA BAXTER TO THE LIBRARY COMMISSION AS THE
CITY OF MONTE SERENO REPRESENTATIVE. MOTION PASSED. AYES:
HUNTER, LO, MILLER, CAPPELLO. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: PAGE.
ABSTAIN: NONE.
2. Proclamations for 2013 Synopsys Silicon Valley Science and Technology
Championship Participants from Saratoga
Recommended action:
Present proclamations to Saratoga students who participated in the Synopsys Silicon
Valley Science and Technology Championship in 2013.
Mayor Hunter presented the proclamations to the participants from the City of
Saratoga in the 2013 Synopsys Silicon Valley Science and Technology
Championship.
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SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
None
CONSENT CALENDAR
3. City Council Meeting Minutes
Recommended action:
Approve City Council minutes for the Special and Regular City Council Meeting on
September 4, 2013.
MILLER/CAPPELLO MOVED TO APPROVE CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
FOR THE SPECIAL AND REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON
SEPTEMBER 4, 2013. MOTION PASSED. AYES: HUNTER, LO, MILLER,
CAPPELLO. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: PAGE.
4. Review of Accounts Payable Check Registers
Recommended action:
Review and accept check registers for the following accounts payable payment
cycles:
9/3/2013 Period 3
9/10/2013 Period 3
MILLER/CAPPELLO MOVED TO ACCEPT CHECK REGISTERS FOR THE
FOLLOWING ACCOUNTS PAYABLE PAYMENT CYCLES: 9/3/2013
PERIOD 3; AND 9/10/2013 PERIOD 3. MOTION PASSED. AYES: HUNTER,
LO, MILLER, CAPPELLO. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: PAGE.
5. Treasurer's Report for the Month Ended July 31, 2013
Recommended action:
Review and accept the Treasurer's Report for the month ended July 31, 2013.
MILLER/CAPPELLO MOVED TO ACCEPT THE TREASURER'S REPORT
FOR THE MONTH ENDED JULY 31, 2013. MOTION PASSED. AYES:
HUNTER, LO, MILLER, CAPPELLO. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: PAGE.
6. Agreement Concerning Joint Use of Campbell Union High School District Property
(Prospect High School)
Recommended action:
Approve Joint Use Agreement with Campbell Union High School District for use of
District Property and authorize the City Manager to execute the same.
Vice Mayor Lo removed this item from the Consent Calendar to request additional
information about the agreement.
Public Works Director John Cherbone addressed Council questions.
LO/CAPPELLO MOVED TO APPROVE JOINT USE AGREEMENT WITH
CAMPBELL UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR USE OF DISTRICT
PROPERTY AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE
SAME. MOTION PASSED. AYES: HUNTER, LO, MILLER, CAPPELLO. NOES:
NONE. ABSENT: PAGE.
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7. Review the Housing Element Progress Report& Consider Recommendations from
the Finance Subcommittee
Recommended action:
Section 65400 of the California Government Code requires the City to file an annual
report with the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD)
addressing the progress made toward implementing the policy actions contained
within the current General Plan Housing Element.
MILLER/CAPPELLO MOVED TO ACCEPT THE HOUSING ELEMENT
PROGRESS REPORT & CONSIDER RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE
FINANCE SUBCOMMITTEE. MOTION PASSED. AYES: HUNTER, LO,
MILLER, CAPPELLO. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: PAGE.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
8. Annual City Code Update
Recommended action:
1. Conduct a public hearing.
2. Introduce and waive the first reading of the attached ordinance amending various
sections of the City Code and direct staff to place the ordinance on the consent
calendar for adoption at the next regular meeting of the City Council.
Christopher Riordan, Senior Planner in the Community Development Department,
presented the staff report.
Mayor Hunter invited public comment.
No one requested to speak.
CAPPELLO/MILLER MOVED TO: 1) CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING; AND
2) INTRODUCE AND WAIVE THE FIRST READING OF THE ATTACHED
ORDINANCE AMENDING VARIOUS SECTIONS OF THE CITY CODE
AND DIRECT STAFF TO PLACE THE ORDINANCE ON THE CONSENT
CALENDAR FOR ADOPTION AT THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING OF
THE CITY COUNCIL WITH THE FOLLOWING CHANGES:
- UNDER THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO NONCONFORMING
STRUCTURES DESTROYED BY NATURAL DISASTERS SUCH AS
FIRE, UPDATE THE ORDINANCE TO READ THAT
RECONSTRUCTION OF THE NONCONFORMING STRUCTURE IS
ALLOWED WHEN AT LEAST 25% OF THE STRUCTURE REMAINS. IF
LESS THAN 25% OF THE STRUCTURE REMAINS, IT IS SUBJECT TO
REVIEW BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
- AMEND THE PROPOSED CHANGE TO SUBTERRANEAN
STRUCTURES TO COUNT 50% OF SUBTERRANEAN STRUCTURES
TOWARDS ALLOWABLE SITE COVERAGE.
MOTION PASSED. AYES: HUNTER, LO, MILLER, CAPPELLO. NOES: NONE.
ABSENT: PAGE.
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OLD BUSINESS
None
NEW BUSINESS
9. City Median Banner Policy
Recommended action:
Approve the resolution establishing the Median Banner Policy and direct staff to
install the infrastructure for banners and bring forward a City Code amendment
prohibiting banners and other signs in City medians except in accordance with this
policy.
Brian Babcock, Administrative Analyst I in the City Manager's Office, presented the
staff report.
Mayor Hunter invited public comment on the item.
The following people requested to speak:
Gary Smith, President of the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce
Aaron, Prospect High School Student
Vanessa, Prospect High School Student
No one else requested to speak.
Council Member Miller said he felt that the section on Permissible Banners in the
policy was a little unclear and requested that staff clarify this section of the policy.
City Attorney Richard Taylor suggested clarifying language.
RESOLUTION NO. 13-063
LO/CAPPELLO MOVED TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING
THE MEDIAN BANNER POLICY; AMEND THE PERMISSIBLE BANNERS
SECTION OF THE POLICY TO READ "PRIVATE BANNERS PLACED IN
CITY MEDIANS MUST ANNOUNCE AN EVENT THAT (1) IS NON-
COMMERCIAL; (2) WILL BE HELD IN SARATOGA; (3) IS OPEN TO THE
GENERAL PUBLIC AND (4) IS HELD BY EITHER (A) A NON-PROFIT
ORGANIZATION; (B) AN INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP WITHOUT CHARGE;
OR(C) AN INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP WITH A CHARGE FOR THE
PURPOSE OF COST-RECOVERY OR RAISING FUNDS ON BEHALF OF A
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION. A NON-COMMERCIAL EVENT IS AN
EVENT THAT DOES NOT PROMOTE A BUSINESS OR THE SALE OF A
GOOD, SERVICE, OR OTHER COMMODITY"; DIRECT STAFF TO
INSTALL THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR BANNERS, TO BE PAID FOR
USING COUNCIL DISCRETIONARY FUNDS; BRING FORWARD A CITY
CODE AMENDMENT PROHIBITING BANNERS AND OTHER SIGNS IN
CITY MEDIANS EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS POLICY; AND
SCHEDULE THE MEDIAN BANNER POLICY TO BE REVIEWED BY THE
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CITY COUNCIL IN ONE YEAR. MOTION PASSED. AYES: HUNTER, LO,
MILLER, CAPPELLO. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: PAGE.
10. Tree City USA Signs
Recommended action:
Approve design and budget for two new Tree City USA signs.
Public Works Director John Cherbone presented the staff report.
Mayor Hunter invited public comment on the item.
The following people requested to speak:
Aaron, Prospect High School Student
Vanessa, Prospect High School Student
No one else requested to speak.
MILLER/CAPPELLO MOVED TO APPROVE DESIGN AND BUDGET FOR
TWO NEW TREE CITY USA SIGNS WITH THE FOLLOWING CHANGES:
1) MAKE AND INSTALL 4 SIGNS, PLACE SIGNS IN PROMINENT
LOCATIONS ON CITY MEDIANS AND RETURN TO COUNCIL WITH
SIGN DESIGN AND PLACEMENT OPTIONS. MOTION PASSED. AYES:
HUNTER, LO, MILLER, CAPPELLO. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: PAGE.
ADHOC & AGENCY ASSIGNMENT REPORTS
Mayor Jill Hunter
Mayor Hunter commented that next month, the Council will be holding its joint meeting
with Saratoga schools. Consequently, Mayor Hunter said she has been visiting each of
the schools to talk to the principals about the meeting and to create a positive exchange
on October 2, 2013.
Hakone Foundation Board—the next meeting will be Friday, September 20, 2013.
Historical Foundation—the Board meets again on September 19, 2013. There will be a
fundraising barbeque on September 29, 2013 at Hakone Gardens. It should be a beautiful
event.
Vice Mayor Emily Lo
West Valley Flood Control & Watershed Advisory Committee—on September 5, the
committee participated in a tour of some of the Water District's projects and watershed
areas.
Council Member Howard Miller
Valley Transportation Authority PAC—during the last meeting, the PAC received an
update on the Executive Director recruitment process. Additionally, the PAC was
informed that transit use is now above pre-recession levels. The greatest area of growth is
use of the new express buses. Discussion on the express lanes in Santa Clara Valley is
also to be scheduled.
Council Member Manny Cappello
Council Member Cappello stated he had nothing to report.
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Council Member Chuck Page
Council Member Page was absent and consequently did not provide a report.
CITY COUNCIL ITEMS
None
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
City Manager Dave Anderson reported that he would be at the Annual League of
California Cities Conference with Council Member Page on Thursday and Friday.
ADJOURNMENT
CAPPELLO/MILLER MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 9:27 P.M.
MOTION PASSED. AYES: HUNTER, LO, MILLER, CAPPELLO. NOES: NONE.
ABSENT: PAGE.
Minutes respectfully submitted:
Crysst1 Bothelio, City Clerk Ci
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