HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-20-2021 Council MinutesSaratoga City Council Minutes ~ January 20, 2021 ~ Page 1 of 8
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2021
SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
At 5:00 p.m., the City Council held a Closed Session via teleconferencing through Zoom.
At 6:00 p.m., the City Council held a Study Session on Mission Statement, Statement of Values,
and City Council Strategic Goals via teleconferencing through Zoom.
Crystal Bothelio, Assistant City Manager, presented the staff reports.
Mayor Zhao invited public comment on the item.
No one requested to speak.
The Council requested the following changes to the Statement of Values and City Council
Strategic Goals:
• Statement of Values: Change “forgoing” to “foregoing” in the last paragraph.
• City Council Strategic Goals: Add “as needed” to the end of Goal 3.b.ii.
• City Council Strategic Goals: Under Goal 3 Public Safety, add new section c titled Wildfire
Prevention with the following goals: i) Engage community participation in wildfire
prevention awareness through community forums; ii) Establish a Wildfire Public Safety
Task Force to improve fire prevention programs, as needed; and iii) Build relationships
with the community through programs like Firewise Communities.
• City Council Strategic Goals: Change the word “create” to “Maintain and/or update” in
Goal 5.a.iii.
• City Council Strategic Goals: Replace “opens” with ‘open” in Goal 6.c.i.
• City Council Strategic Goals: Remove “improving” from Goal 6.f.ii.
• City Council Strategic Goals: In Goal 7.b, add new section iv. Maintain and/or update
Climate Action Plan.
City Manager James Lindsay shared that the changes would be brought to the City Council at a
future Regular Meeting for adoption.
Mayor Zhao called the virtual Regular Session to order at 7:01 p.m. via teleconferencing through
Zoom.
Prior to Roll Call, the Mayor and City Clerk explained that the City Council meeting was conducted
pursuant to provisions of the Brown Act and a recent Executive Order issued by the Governor to
facilitate teleconferencing to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission at public meetings. Ordinarily
the Brown Act sets strict rules for teleconferencing. The Governor’s Executive Order has suspended
those rules. The Executive Order does require that public agencies continue to notice meetings in
advance and provide members of the public an opportunity to observe the meeting and offer public
comment. The City Council met all of the applicable notice requirements and the public is welcome to
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ January 20, 2021 ~ Page 2 of 8
participate in this meeting. Information on how the public can observe the meeting and provide public
comment was also shared. Additionally, the Mayor explained that votes would be taken through roll call.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Mayor Yan Zhao, Vice Mayor Tina Walia, Council Members Rishi
Kumar, Kookie Fitzsimmons, Mary-Lynne Bernald
(All Council Members appearing via teleconference)
ABSENT: None
ALSO PRESENT: James Lindsay, City Manager
Richard Taylor, City Attorney
Crystal Bothelio, Assistant City Manager
Debbie Bretschneider, City Clerk
Mary Fury, Administrative Services Director
Debbie Pedro, Community Development Director
John Cherbone, Public Works Director
Dennis Jaw, Finance Manager
Mainini Cabute, Environmental Program Manager
(All staff members appearing via teleconference)
City Clerk Debbie Bretschneider confirmed all City Council members could hear the meeting
proceedings and no doubts were expressed regarding the identities of the individuals representing
themselves as City Council Members.
REPORT ON POSTING OF THE AGENDA
City Clerk Debbie Bretschneider reported that the agenda for this meeting was properly posted
on January 15, 2021.
REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSION
Mayor Zhao reported that there was no reportable action from the Closed Session.
REPORT FROM STUDY SESSION
Mayor Zhao reported on the Study Session about the Mission Statement, Statement of Values,
and City Council Strategic Goals.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ON NON-AGENDIZED ITEMS
Eric Cao spoke on the Mayoral rotation protocol
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Zhao shared information about Paint the City, the Hakone online gift shop, COVID-19
updates, and the online City of Saratoga planning map.
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ January 20, 2021 ~ Page 3 of 8
CEREMONIAL ITEMS
Appointment of Heritage Preservation Commissioner
Recommended Action:
Approve the resolution appointing 1 member to the Heritage Preservation Commission and direct
the City Clerk to administer the Oath of Office.
RESOLUTION 21-001
FITZSIMMONS/WALIA MOVED TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION APPOINTING 1
MEMBER TO THE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION AND DIRECT THE
CITY CLERK TO ADMINISTER THE OATH OF OFFICE. MOTION PASSED BY
VERBAL ROLL CALL. AYES: ZHAO, WALIA, KUMAR, FITZSIMMONS. NOES:
BERNALD. ABSTAIN: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
1. CONSENT CALENDAR
1.1. City Council Meeting Minutes
Recommended Action:
Approve the City Council minutes for the Special City Council Meeting on December 15,
2020 and the Regular City Council Meeting on December 16, 2020.
FITZSIMMONS/WALIA MOVED TO APPROVE THE CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
FOR THE SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON DECEMBER 15, 2020 AND
THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON DECEMBER 16, 2020. MOTION
PASSED BY VERBAL ROLL CALL. AYES: ZHAO, WALIA, KUMAR, BERNALD.
NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: FITZSIMMONS. ABSENT: NONE.
1.2. Review of Accounts Payable Check Registers
Recommended Action:
Review and accept check registers for the following accounts payable payment cycles:
12/16/2020 Period 6; 01/06/21 Period 7; and 01/12/21 Period 7.
FITZSIMMONS/WALIA MOVED TO ACCEPT CHECK REGISTERS FOR THE
FOLLOWING ACCOUNTS PAYABLE PAYMENT CYCLES: 12/16/2020 PERIOD
6; 01/06/21 PERIOD 7; AND 01/12/21 PERIOD 7. MOTION PASSED BY VERBAL
ROLL CALL. AYES: ZHAO, WALIA, KUMAR, FITZSIMMONS, BERNALD. NOES:
NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
1.3. Treasurer’s Report for the Month Ended November 30, 2020
Recommended Action:
Review and accept the Treasurer’s Report for the month ended November 30, 2020.
FITZSIMMONS/WALIA MOVED TO ACCEPT THE TREASURER’S REPORT FOR
THE MONTH ENDED NOVEMBER 30, 2020. MOTION PASSED BY VERBAL
ROLL CALL. AYES: ZHAO, WALIA, KUMAR, FITZSIMMONS, BERNALD. NOES:
NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ January 20, 2021 ~ Page 4 of 8
1.4. Annual SB 165 Special Tax & Bond Accountability Annual Report
Recommended Action:
City Council to receive and file the annual report on the Arrowhead Community Facility
District (CFD) bond debt, in compliance with the Local Agency Special Tax and Bond
Accountability Act.
FITZSIMMONS/WALIA MOVED TO RECEIVE AND FILE THE ANNUAL REPORT
ON THE ARROWHEAD COMMUNITY FACILITY DISTRICT (CFD) BOND
DEBT, IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE LOCAL AGENCY SPECIAL TAX AND
BOND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT. MOTION PASSED BY VERBAL ROLL CALL.
AYES: ZHAO, WALIA, KUMAR, FITZSIMMONS, BERNALD. NOES: NONE.
ABSTAIN: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
1.5. Resolution Authorizing Final Disposition of Certain City Records
Recommended Action:
Adopt resolution authorizing final disposition of certain city records.
RESOLUTION 21-002
FITZSIMMONS/WALIA MOVED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING
FINAL DISPOSITION OF CERTAIN CITY RECORDS. MOTION PASSED BY
VERBAL ROLL CALL. AYES: ZHAO, WALIA, KUMAR, FITZSIMMONS, BERNALD.
NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
2. PUBLIC HEARING
None
3. GENERAL BUSINESS
3.1. AB1600 Development Impact Fee Report
Recommended Action:
Review and accept the annual AB1600 Development Impact Fee report for the fiscal year
ended June 30, 2020.
Dennis Jaw, Finance Manager, presented the staff report.
Mayor Zhao invited public comment on the item.
No one requested to speak.
FITZSIMMONS/BERNALD MOVED TO REVIEW AND ACCEPT THE ANNUAL
AB1600 DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEE REPORT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
ENDED JUNE 30, 2020. MOTION PASSED BY VERBAL ROLL CALL. AYES:
ZHAO, WALIA, KUMAR, FITZSIMMONS, BERNALD. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN:
NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ January 20, 2021 ~ Page 5 of 8
3.2. Village Parking District 4 Conceptual Improvement Plan
Recommended Action:
1. Authorize the City Manager to execute a contract with BKF Engineers in the amount of
$27,358.
2.Authorize City Manager to execute a change order up to $2,735.80.
Mainini Cabute, Environmental Program Manager, presented the staff report.
Mayor Zhao invited public comment on the item.
No one requested to speak.
BERNALD/FITZSIMMONS MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO
EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH BKF ENGINEERS IN THE AMOUNT OF $27,358
AND TO AUTHORIZE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CHANGE ORDER UP
TO $2,735.80. MOTION PASSED BY VERBAL ROLL CALL. AYES: ZHAO, WALIA,
KUMAR, FITZSIMMONS, BERNALD. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. ABSENT:
NONE.
3.3. Amended Contract with Fehr and Peers Transportation Consultants for the Safe
Routes to School Master Plan Project
Recommended Action:
1.Authorize the City Manager to execute an amended contract with Fehr and Peers for
development of a Safe Routes to School Master Plan to expand the agreement scope to
include community engagement and feedback and increase the contract amount by $22,568
for a total contract amount of $88,516.
2.Authorize a contingency for change orders to the contract up to $8,800.
Mainini Cabute, Environmental Program Manager, presented the staff report.
Mayor Zhao invited public comment on the item.
Jojo Choi, Traffic Safety Commissioner, spoke
No one else requested to speak.
WALIA/BERNALD MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO
EXECUTE AN AMENDED CONTRACT WITH FEHR AND PEERS FOR
DEVELOPMENT OF A SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL MASTER PLAN TO
EXPAND THE AGREEMENT SCOPE TO INCLUDE COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT AND FEEDBACK AND INCREASE THE CONTRACT AMOUNT
BY $22,568 FOR A TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $88,516 AND TO
AUTHORIZE A CONTINGENCY FOR CHANGE ORDERS TO THE CONTRACT
UP TO $8,800. MOTION PASSED BY VERBAL ROLL CALL. AYES: ZHAO, WALIA,
KUMAR, FITZSIMMONS, BERNALD. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. ABSENT:
NONE.
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ January 20, 2021 ~ Page 6 of 8
3.4. Acceptance of Local Early Action Planning (LEAP) Grant Award and Budget
Amendment
Recommended Action:
Approve the attached resolution for budget adjustments to the FY 2020/21 Capital Budgets
in the amount of awarded Grant Funds.
Debbie Pedro, Community Development Director, presented the staff report.
Mayor Zhao invited public comment on the item.
No one requested to speak.
RESOLUTION 21-003
BERNALD/FITZSIMMONS MOVED TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION FOR
BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS TO THE FY 2020/21 CAPITAL BUDGETS IN THE
AMOUNT OF AWARDED GRANT FUNDS. MOTION PASSED BY VERBAL ROLL
CALL. AYES: ZHAO, WALIA, KUMAR, FITZSIMMONS, BERNALD. NOES: NONE.
ABSTAIN: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
3.5. City Council 2021 Meeting Schedule
Recommended Action:
Provide direction to staff regarding the City Council’s 2021 meeting schedule; and authorize
the City Manager to reinstate any cancelled meeting with 72 hours’ notice if any urgent
items arise.
Debbie Bretschneider, City Clerk, presented the staff report.
Mayor Zhao invited public comment on the item.
No one requested to speak.
ZHAO/FITZSIMMONS MOVED TO CANCEL THE AUGUST 4, 2021 AND AUGUST
18, 2021 COUNCIL MEETINGS AND TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO
REINSTATE ANY CANCELLED MEETING WITH 72 HOURS’ NOTICE IF ANY
URGENT ITEMS ARISE. MOTION PASSED BY VERBAL ROLL CALL. AYES:
ZHAO, WALIA, KUMAR, FITZSIMMONS, BERNALD. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN:
NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
COUNCIL ASSIGNMENTS
Mayor Yan Zhao
Association of Bay Area Governments -- there was no meeting, but the Mayor sent a letter
representing the City to ABAG to ask for lower RHNA Housing allocation.
Cities Association of Santa Clara County-City Selection Committee – the Committee appointed
several people to 6 different agencies, however there is still an opening Sourcewise, the
representative needs to be over age of 60 and does not need to be an elected official.
Cities Association of Santa Clara County – the Cities Association approved the November 2020
fiscal report and approved 2021 priority issues: COVID-19 recovery, Transportation, Regional
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ January 20, 2021 ~ Page 7 of 8
Justice, and Housing & Homelessness. They also discussed and approved a letter to VTA on
Measure B and asking for money for local roads in the community instead of BART.
Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Policy Advisory Committee – the Committee elected
Cupertino Council Member Ward as Chair and San Jose Council Member Mahan as Vice Chair.
There was also a discussion on status of Santa Clara County vehicle registration fee.
West Valley Sanitation District – the Board elected Monte Sereno Council Member Turner as
Chair and Saratoga Mayor Zhao as Vice Chair.
Vice Mayor Tina Walia
Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority Board of Directors – the Board elected Mountain View
Council Member Abe-Koga as Chair and Campbell Mayor Gibbons as Vice Chair. The Board
received several reports, including having received an A rating from S&P Global Ratings,
approved new contract for new facility for solar panels, SVCE is participating in Statewide
Arrearage Management Plans (AMB) program, a debt forgiveness program for residents, and the
SCVE website has information to encourage residents to lower carbon imprint.
Saratoga Ministerial Association – Council Member Walia asked Council Member Bernald to
attend the meeting the week of January 25.
Council Member Rishi Kumar
No report.
Council Member Kookie Fitzsimmons
Chamber of Commerce – the Chamber discussed revamping parts of the website with a robust
online Visitor Center.
Council Member Mary-Lynne Bernald
Hakone Foundation Board & Executive Committee – the Board discussed looking for funding of
the pond remodel.
Saratoga Public Art Committee – the Committee confirmed the 2021 meeting schedule and
confirmed the budget for Shadow Art project. Also discussed upcoming ideas, including
Hopscotch, Rainy Day Poetry, call for artists for Utility Boxes, and looking for ideas for the
Gateway.
CITY COUNCIL ITEMS
Council Member Kumar proposed a future City Council agenda item on San Jose Water
Company’s rate increase application. There was no second.
Council Member Bernald, with support from Council Member Fitzsimmons, proposed
development of a handbook for the Traffic Safety Commission.
Council Member Fitzsimmons asked about a response to the letter included in the Oral
Communications on Non-Agendized Item. City Manager James Lindsay responded that the City
is always looking for ways to improve access to information. Mayor Zhao added that she has
been in communication with the resident.
COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS
None
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ January 20, 2021 ~ Page 8 of 8
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
None
ADJOURNMENT
BERNALD/FITZSIMMONS MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 8:19 P.M.
MOTION PASSED BY VERBAL ROLL CALL. AYES: ZHAO, WALIA, KUMAR,
FITZSIMMONS, BERNALD. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
Minutes respectfully submitted:
Debbie Bretschneider, City Clerk
City of Saratoga