HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-01-2019 City Council Retreat minutesSaratoga City Council Minutes ~ February 1, 2019 ~ Page 1 of 5
MINUTES
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2019
SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING
CITY COUNCIL RETREAT
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Manny Cappello called the meeting to order at 9:03 a.m. in the Baltic Room, Campus
Center, West Valley College at 14000 Fruitvale Avenue in Saratoga, CA.
West Valley President Brad Davis welcomed everyone to West Valley College.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Mayor Manny Cappello, Vice Mayor Howard Miller, Council
Members Rishi Kumar, Mary-Lynne Bernald, Yan Zhao
ABSENT: None
ALSO PRESENT: James Lindsay, City Manager
Richard Taylor, City Attorney
Crystal Bothelio, Deputy City Manager
Debbie Bretschneider, City Clerk
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
Monica LaBossiere, Human Resources Manager
Dennis Jaw, Finance Manager
Lauren Pettipiece, Public Information Officer
Nancy Rollett, Los Gatos-Saratoga Recreation Executive Director
Christopher Riordan, Senior Planner
Mainini Cabute, Public Works Analyst
Babette McKay, Human Resources Technician
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ON NON-AGENDIZED ITEMS
Daniel Onn spoke about West Valley College.
AGENDA ITEMS
Finance Review: Finance & Staffing Review
City Manager James Lindsay reported that staff is recommending a contract with Los Gatos-
Saratoga (LGS) Recreation for the delivery of recreation programs. He also shared information
about recommended organizational changes, including several new classifications. He noted that
the changes would not result in additional expenses to the General Fund.
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Nancy Rollett, Los Gatos-Saratoga Recreation Executive Director, spoke on the history of LGS
Recreation and the Board’s support for this agreement. She also discussed LGS Recreation’s
recent collaboration with the Saratoga Area Senior Coordinating Council (SASCC).
Finance and Administrative Services Director Mary Furey shared the budget calendar, provided
a report on the fiscal policies. A notable change to the policies includes the City’s role as Fiscal
Agent for the West Valley Clean Water Authority. She requested that the City Council submit
requested changes to the policies by March 1. The City Council will consider the policies at the
Budget Study Session.
Finance and Administrative Services Director Mary Furey then reported on the Mid-Year
Budget. 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 one proposed mid-year budget adjustment for the Arrowhead Bond issuance.
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.
Mayor Cappello invited public comment on the item.
No one requested to speak.
COUNCIL CONSENSUS:
1. The City Council agreed to include the reorganization plan of City staff in the FY2019/20
budget.
2. The City Council asked for a review of the SASCC agreement prior to the LGS
Recreation agreement.
3. The City Council expressed support for an agreement for recreation services with LGS
Recreation for 2 years, starting on July 1, 2019.
4. The City Council asked for the LGS Recreation activity guide to include West Valley
College non-credit classes.
5. The City Council asked LGS Recreation and City staff to work together to coordinate
public messaging on the transition of recreation services to LGS Recreation.
6. The City Council directed the Finance Committee to review the Risk Management
Capital Project and implications of the release of Measure B Funds.
7. The City Council agreed to maintain current Santa Clara County Sheriff service levels.
Mayor Cappello called for a recess at 10:33 a.m. and reconvened the meeting at 10:46 a.m.
Future City Work Efforts
Deputy City Manager Crystal Bothelio presented the report on significant City initiatives
expected in the coming years.
Mayor Cappello invited public comment on the item.
No one requested to speak.
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COUNCIL CONSENSUS:
1. The City Council directed staff to convert the list of future City work efforts to a timeline
format organized by Department to be shared with the City Council at the CIP
Prioritization Study Session.
FY 2019/20 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) Budget Prioritization Process Preview
Finance Manager Dennis Jaw presented a preview of the Fiscal Year 2019/20 CIP, including
updates on projects in the Fiscal Year 2018/19 CIP.
Mayor Cappello invited public comment on the item.
No one requested to speak.
COUNCIL CONSENSUS:
1. The City Council approved the CIP list in Attachment B- FY2019/20 CIP Project
Activity Summaries.
2. The City Council requested a mid-year budget adjustment for the Bocce Ball Court
project so that work can begin in the current fiscal year.
3. The City Council requested the Additional Funding Requests include a proposal for an
additition of $150,000 for Senior Center Entrance Remodel project be considered at the
CIP Budget Prioritization Study Session.
4. The City Council agreed to no changes to the process in the CIP Budget Prioritization
Study Session.
Mayor Cappello called for a break at 11:41 am and reconvened the meeting at 12:19.
Mission & Statement of Values Review
City Manager James Lindsay led a discussion on the City Council Mission Statement and
Statement of Values.
Mayor Cappello invited public comment on the item.
No one requested to speak.
COUNCIL CONSENSUS:
1. The City Council noted sections of the Mission Statement and Statement of Values that
they would like to be updated and asked staff to present suggested changes at a future
meeting.
Housing Legislation
Community Development Director Debbie Pedro presented a report on past and upcoming
efforts related to housing, as well as recently adopted housing legislation.
Mayor Cappello invited public comment on the item.
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The following people requested to speak:
Tina Walia, Planning Commissioner, asked the City Council what the Planning Commission can
do to help the City regarding housing legislation and requirements.
No one else requested to speak.
COUNCIL CONSENSUS:
1. The City Council directed staff to keep the Council apprised of legislation and the efforts
of regional partners, including the Cities Association.
Public Safety
Deputy City Manager Crystal Bothelio presented implementation suggestions for the Public
Safety Task Force recommendations and Neighborhood Watch Grant funding levels.
Mayor Cappello invited public comment on the item.
The following people requested to speak:
Daniel Onn commented on the challenges of coordinating an annual Neighborhood Watch
gathering.
Indira Joshi suggested that the City support Neighborhood Watch groups by helping with
communication to neighbors.
Lisa Foster commented on the importance of asking people to volunteer for a specific task.
Chuck Page spoke about his term on the Public Safety Task Force and the Task Force
recommendations, including the proposal to create City email accounts for all Neighborhood
Watch leads.
No one else requested to speak.
COUNCIL CONSENSUS:
1. The City Council directed staff to provide groups that have not reported a 2018 gathering
until June 30, 2019 to hold and report a gathering for the 2018 and 2019 calendar years to
remain registered.
2. The City Council directed staff to schedule City Council consideration of an agenda item
to reestablish the Public Safety Task Force to be active March 2019 through November
2020 with a focus on wildfire and emergency preparedness and to follow the same
appointment process as the original Task Force.
3. The City Council directed staff to create Neighborhood Watch Lead Contact Form as an
alternative to requiring each group to provide public contact information or creating City
email accounts for each group.
4. The City Council supported staff’s recommendation to maintain the requirement to hold
and report an annual gathering, to prohibit overlapping boundaries, mail a quarterly
public safety postcard to all residents, and continue biannual lead get-togethers.
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5. The City Council directed staff to continue the $300 grant to Neighborhood Watch
Groups.
Mayor Cappello called for a break at 2:56 p.m. and reconvened the meeting at 3:09 p.m.
City Council Priorities
City Manager James Lindsay reported that the Council had a Study Session in December 2018
on Council Priorities and this is continuing the discussion on City Council priorities for the
City’s Commissions.
Mayor Cappello asked the Council to review the Commission roles listed in the staff report.
Mayor Cappello invited public comment on the item.
No one requested to speak.
COUNCIL CONSENSUS:
1. The City Council asked the members of the Library Commission to review and propose
changes to the Library Commission’s mission and purpose statements at a future meeting.
2. The City Council agreed to change the name of the Parks and Recreation Commission to
the Parks Commission and remove all references to Recreation in the Commission’s
mission and purpose statements. The City Council also requested that the mission and
purpose statement include language that reflect the Commission’s efforts to engage the
community.
3. The City Council requested input from the Traffic Safety Commission on holding
monthly meetings instead of every other month.
Retreat Wrap Up
City Manager James Lindsay reviewed the council consensus on each agenda item. The City
Council agreed on the consensus items without changes.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Cappello adjourned the meeting at 4:34 p.m.
Minutes respectfully submitted:
Debbie Bretschneider, City Clerk
City of Saratoga