HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-16-2018 City Council Retreat MinutesMINUTES
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2018
SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING
CITY COUNCIL RETREAT
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Mary -Lynne Bemald called the meeting to order at 9:03 a.m. in the Saratoga Foothill
Club at 20399 Park Place in Saratoga, CA.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Mayor Mary -Lynne Bernald, Vice Mayor Manny Cappello,
Council Members Howard Miller, Rishi Kumar
ABSENT: Emily Lo
ALSO PRESENT: James Lindsay, City Manager
Richard Taylor, City Attorney
Crystal Bothelio, Deputy City Manager
Debbie Pedro, Community Development Director
John Cherbone, Public Works Director
Michael Taylor, Recreation & Facilities Director
Mary Furey, Finance & Administrative Services Director
Captain Rich Urena, Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office
Nora Pimentel, City Clerk
Monica LaBossiere, Human Resources Manager
Tony McFarlane, Finance Manager
Lauren Pettipiece, Administrative Analyst
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ON NON-AGENDIZED ITEMS
None
AGENDA ITEMS
Finance Review: Fiscal Policies, Mid -Year Budget Status, and Five Year Forecast
Finance and Administrative Services Director Mary Furey provided a report on the fiscal
policies, which are adopted as part of the budget. If the City Council would like to request
revisions to existing policies, she requested submittal of those requests to staff by March 1.
Finance and Administrative Services Director Mary Furey then reported on the Mid -Year Budget
Status. She provided information about estimated expenditures and revenues, noting the current
projections for different taxes and fees and operational expenditures. She also provided an
overview on several proposed mid -year budget adjustments.
Finance and Administrative Services Director Mary Furey shared the five-year forecast with the
City Council, explaining some of the assumptions used to prepare the forecast and their impact
on the resulting projections.
Saratoga City Council Minutes— Page 1 of 3
Finance and Administrative Services Director Mary Furey then discussed the California Public
Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) and reported that the discount rate went up.
COUNCIL CONSENSUS:
The City Council agreed to place the proposed Mid Year Budget Adjustments for Fiscal Year
2017/18 on the March 7, 2018 City Council Agenda, including: an amendment to the expenditure
budget appropriations for Internal Service Fund, Facility Replacement Fund; change in scope for
the Electric Vehicle Fast Charge Station project in the current year Capital Improvement Plan
(CIP) budget; additional funding allocation in the amount of $100,000 for the Saratoga Village to
Quarry Park Walkway in the current year CIP budget; and additional funding allocation in the
amount of $160,000 to the Prospect Road Improvements project in the current year CIP budget.
The City Council requested that staff provide an update to the Five Year Forecast with the best
available data from Ca1PERS. The Finance Committee was also directed to review the current
Ca1PERS payment policy and pros/cons of early retirement versus late retirement.
Mayor Bernald called for a recess at 10:18 a.m. and reconvened the meeting at 10:29 a.m.
FY 2018/19 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) Budget Preview
Tony McFarlane, Finance Manager, presented a preview of the Fiscal Year 2018/19 CIP,
including updates on projects in the Fiscal Year 2017/18 CIP.
COUNCIL CONSENSUS:
The City Council requested that staff provide the parks replacement schedule and additional
information about funding of parks maintenance through the Operating and Capital Budget at the
CIP Prioritization Study Session. The City Council also requested an update to the scope and
cost of the nominated Senior Center Exterior Remodel Project to include facade improvements
and noted that the project will be done in coordination with the interior remodel. Staff was asked
to provide the balance of the City Council Discretionary fund and also to provide the total cost of
proposed projects which is to include the amount committed to priority projects and additional
funding requests.
Mayor Bernald called for a break at 11:27 a.m. and reconvened the meeting at 11:37 a.m.
Staffing & Service Levels
City Manager James Lindsay reported that staff is not recommending changes to the Sheriff's
Office staffing levels or service levels. He then described organizational changes in several
departments and potential employee retention strategies.
COUNCIL CONSENSUS:
The City Council agreed that staff would bring forward the following draft programs to the
Budget Study Session: Down Payment Assistance Program, including a risk assessment of the
program; and Rental Assistance Program for home sharing in Saratoga.
Saratoga City Council Minutes— Page 2 of 3
Public Health Initiatives & Santa Clara County Healthy Cities Campaign
Crystal Bothelio, Deputy City Manager, reported on the Healthy Cities Initiatives and provided
an overview of the various strategies, including new strategies recommended to be pursued in
2018.
COUNCIL CONSENSUS:
The City Council directed staff to move forward with the proposed new strategies. As part of the
ordinance prohibiting sale of tobacco products at pharmacies, staff should review the definition
of pharmacy in the City Code. Staff was also asked to recommend that the Santa Clara County
Public Health Department include electric vehicle charging stations and biking during work
hours as Healthy Cities strategies. Additionally, staff was directed to present an informational
report on flavored tobacco sales at a future City Council Meeting. Staff was
Report on 2017 Housing Legislation
Richard Taylor, City Attorney reported on the housing legislation approved by the State in 2017
that would have the biggest effect on Saratoga.
COUNCIL CONSENSUS:
The City Council directed staff to look at the City's objective standards and bring forward any
City Code updates that may be needed.
Mayor Bernald called for a break at 2:23 p.m. and reconvened the meeting at 2:33 p.m.
Retreat Wrap Up
City Manager James Lindsay reviewed Council Consensus and direction for each agenda item.
The City Council agreed on the consensus without changes.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Bernald adjourned the meeting at 3:50 p.m.
Min r ctfu itted:
ora amen , rty Clerk
City of Saratoga
Saratoga City Council Minutes— Page 3 of 3