HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-31-2021 City Council and Planning Commission Study Session MinutesSaratoga City Council Minutes ~ August 31, 2021 ~ Page 1 of 2
MINUTES
TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2021
SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION
STUDY SESSION
At 5:00 p.m., the City Council and Planning Commission held a Housing Element Update Study
Session via teleconferencing through Zoom.
Prior to Roll Call, the Mayor and City Clerk explained 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 was welcome to 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 Zhao, Vice Mayor Walia, Council Members Bernald, Kumar,
Fitzsimmons (All Council Members appearing via teleconference)
Planning Commission Chair Kausar, Vice Chair Zheng, Planning
Commissioners Ahuja, Brownley, Choi, Jensen, Mohiuddin (All Planning
Commissioners appearing via teleconference)
ABSENT: None
ALSO PRESENT: James Lindsay, City Manager
Richard Taylor, City Attorney
Crystal Bothelio, Assistant City Manager
Britt Avrit, City Clerk
Debbie Pedro, Community Development Director
John Cherbone, Public Works Director
Lauren Pettipiece, Public Information Officer
Emma Burkhalter, Associate Civil Engineer
REPORT ON POSTING OF THE AGENDA
The City Clerk stated the agenda for this meeting was properly posted on August 26, 2021.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ON NON-AGENDIZED ITEMS
No one requested to speak during Oral Communications on Non-Agendized Items
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ August 31, 2021 ~ Page 2 of 2
AGENDA ITEMS:
Saratoga Housing Element Update
Recommended Action:
Provide direction on the City of Saratoga Housing Element update.
Debbie Pedro, Community Development Director, presented the staff report.
Mayor Zhao invited public comment on the item.
The following individuals spoke on this item: Terri Singer, Simona, Jeffrey Schwartz, Tsing
Bardin, David, Bill Mullen, Corinne Vita, Ray Froess, Bill Reid, Kalisha Webster
Mayor Zhao requested a recess at this time and reconvened the meeting at 7:11 p.m.
WALIA/FITZIMMONS MOVED TO DIRECT THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO 1)
MOVE FORWARD WITH ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY AND OBTAINING PUBLIC
INPUT REGARDING THE HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE, 2) CREATE A LIST OF
ALL POSSIBLE OPPORTUNITY SITES INCLUDING THE PROS AND CONS OF EACH
SITE, 3) PROVIDE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL, AND 4) AND
INCLUDE THE SUGGESTED POLICIES LISTED IN STAFF’S PRESENTATION IN
THE PLANNING COMMISSION STUDY SESSIONS. MOTION PASSED BY VERBAL
ROLL CALL. AYES: BERNALD, FITZSIMMONS, WALIA, ZHAO. NOES: NONE.
ABSTAIN: NONE. ABSENT: KUMAR
Walia moved to request that staff, with regard to the Housing Element, include the Marshall Lane
project in the report to the Planning Commission.
Motion failed due to lack of a second.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Zhao adjourned the meeting at 8:16 p.m.
Minutes respectfully submitted:
Britt Avrit, MMC, City Clerk
City of Saratoga