HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-15-2021 City Council Meeting MinutesSaratoga City Council Minutes ~ September 15, 2021 ~ Page 1 of 6
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2021
SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
At 6:00 p.m., the City Council held a Joint Meeting with the Youth Commission via
teleconferencing through Zoom.
Mayor Zhao invited public comment.
No one requested to speak.
Mayor Zhao called the Regular Session to order at 7:03 p.m. 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 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
Britt Avrit, City Clerk
Mary Furey, Administrative Services Director
Debbie Pedro, Community Development Director
John Cherbone, Public Works Director
Leo Salindong, IT Manager
Lauren Pettipiece, Public Information Officer
Kayla Nakamoto, Administrative Analyst
(All staff members appearing via teleconference)
REPORT ON POSTING OF THE AGENDA
The City Clerk reported the agenda for this meeting was properly posted on September 9, 2021.
REPORT ON JOINT MEETING
Youth Commission Chair Cameron Hicks and Youth Commission Vice Chair Aria Jain discussed
the Joint Meeting with the City Council.
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ September 15, 2021 ~ Page 2 of 6
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ON NON-AGENDIZED ITEMS
The following individuals spoke at this time:
Jeffrey Schwartz - discussed the comment letter from Cheriel Jensen regarding Saratoga’s
Regional Housing Needs Allocation appeal.
Emily Lo – discussed the comment letter from Cheriel Jensen regarding Saratoga’s Regional
Housing Needs Allocation appeal.
Pragati Grover – discussed the comment letter from Cheriel Jensen regarding Saratoga’s Regional
Housing Needs Allocation appeal.
Cynthia Chang – discussed the comment letter from Cheriel Jensen regarding Saratoga’s Regional
Housing Needs Allocation appeal.
Nai Hsueh – discussed the comment letter from Cheriel Jensen regarding Saratoga’s Regional
Housing Needs Allocation appeal.
Eric Cao – discussed the comment letter from Cheriel Jensen regarding Saratoga’s Regional
Housing Needs Allocation appeal.
Stan Bogosian – discussed the comment letter from Cheriel Jensen regarding Saratoga’s Regional
Housing Needs Allocation appeal.
Chuck Page – discussed the City Council’s relationship with the Chamber of Commerce and
discussed the comment letter from Cheriel Jensen regarding Saratoga’s Regional Housing Needs
Allocation appeal.
David Guidry - discussed the comment letter from Cheriel Jensen regarding Saratoga’s Regional
Housing Needs Allocation appeal.
Phyllis Tung – discussed the comment letter from Cheriel Jensen regarding Saratoga’s Regional
Housing Needs Allocation appeal.
Katherine Tseng - discussed the comment letter from Cheriel Jensen regarding Saratoga’s
Regional Housing Needs Allocation appeal.
Howard – discussed the comment letter from Cheriel Jensen regarding Saratoga’s Regional
Housing Needs Allocation appeal.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Zhao shared information about COVID-19, Saratoga Power Lunch, and several
Commission recruitments.
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ September 15, 2021 ~ Page 3 of 6
CEREMONIAL ITEMS
Appointment of Library & Community Engagement Commissioner
Recommended Action:
Approve the Resolution appointing one member to the Library & Community Engagement
Commission and direct the City Clerk to administer the Oath of Office.
RESOLUTION 21-067
BERNALD/FITZSIMMONS MOVED TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION APPOINTING
ROBERT GULINO TO THE LIBRARY & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
COMMISSION AND DIRECT THE CITY CLERK TO ADMINISTER THE OATH OF
OFFICE; MOTION PASSED BY VERBAL ROLL CALL. AYES: BERNALD,
FITZSIMMONS, KUMAR, WALIA, ZHAO: NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. ABSENT:
NONE.
Proclamation Declaring September 2021 as Preparedness Month
Recommended Action:
Proclaim September 2021 as Preparedness Month.
No action necessary for the Proclamation.
The City Council recognized retiring Finance and Administrative Services Director Mary Furey
and commended her for 15 years of service to the City of Saratoga.
1. CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Zhao invited public comment on the Consent Calendar.
No one requested to speak.
1.1. Review of Accounts Payable Check Registers
Recommended Action:
Review and accept check registers for the following accounts payable payment cycles:
9/1/21 Period 2; 9/8/21 Period 3
BERNALD/FITZSIMMONS MOVED TO REVIEW AND ACCEPT CHECK
REGISTERS FOR THE FOLLOWING ACCOUNTS PAYABLE PAYMENT
CYCLES: 9/1/21 PERIOD 2; 9/8/21 PERIOD 3. MOTION PASSED BY VERBAL ROLL
CALL. AYES: BERNALD, FITZSIMMONS, KUMAR, WALIA, ZHAO: NOES: NONE.
ABSTAIN: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ September 15, 2021 ~ Page 4 of 6
1.2. SB 165 Special Tax and Bond Accountability 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.
BERNALD/FITZSIMMONS 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: BERNALD, FITZSIMMONS, KUMAR, WALIA, ZHAO: NOES: NONE.
ABSTAIN: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
1.3. Resolution Authorizing the Hakone Foundation to Apply for A County Historical
Grant for the Mon Roof Rehabilitation and Restoration Project
Recommended Action:
Approve the resolution authorizing the Hakone Foundation to submit a County Historical
Heritage Grant Program application for the Mon Roof Rehabilitation and Restoration
project.
RESOLUTION 21-068
BERNALD/FITZSIMMONS MOVED TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION
AUTHORIZING THE HAKONE FOUNDATION TO SUBMIT A COUNTY
HISTORICAL HERITAGE GRANT PROGRAM APPLICATION FOR THE MON
ROOF REHABILITATION AND RESTORATION PROJECT. MOTION PASSED BY
VERBAL ROLL CALL. AYES: BERNALD, FITZSIMMONS, KUMAR, WALIA, ZHAO:
NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
2. PUBLIC HEARING
None
3. GENERAL BUSINESS
3.1. Information Technology (IT) Master Plan Presentation
Recommended Action:
Receive presentation.
Leo Salindong, IT Manager, and Rob Balbuena, IT Analyst, presented the staff report.
Mayor Zhao invited public comment on the item.
The following individual spoke on this item: Chuck Page
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ September 15, 2021 ~ Page 5 of 6
The Mayor requested a brief recess and reconvened the meeting at 8:46 p.m.
3.2. Approaches to Improve City Road Conditions
Recommended Action:
Receive report and consider suspending the current community engagement program and
continuing the discussion to the City Council Retreat in early 2022 when more information
will be known about future one-time funding opportunities.
James Lindsay, City Manager, presented the staff report.
Mayor Zhao invited public comment on the item.
The following individual spoke on this item: Chuck Page
KUMAR/FITZSIMMONS MOVED TO SUSPEND THE CURRENT COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM AND CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION TO THE CITY
COUNCIL RETREAT IN EARLY 2022. MOTION PASSED BY VERBAL ROLL CALL.
AYES: BERNALD, FITZSIMMONS, KUMAR, WALIA, ZHAO: NOES: NONE.
ABSTAIN: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
COUNCIL ASSIGNMENTS
Council Member Mary-Lynne Bernald
Santa Clara/Santa Cruz Airport/Community Roundtable – discussed items from the September 7,
2021, Special Meeting including presentations from the Ad Hoc Committee and approval of the
budget as long as the Cities Association provides additional related to the budget.
Hakone Foundation Board & Executive Committee - stated she attended the meeting on July 14,
2021 and will be attending the meetings on September 16, 2021.
Council Member Kookie Fitzsimmons
Chamber of Commerce – discussed potential extension of the parklet permits in the Village and
stated the Chamber President will be going door to door to discuss experiences with the parklets;
discussed recent music festival fundraiser for the Chamber and stated the Chamber is looking to
potentially bring the festival back May or June of 2022; discussed car show scheduled for Sunday,
July 24, 2022.
Sister City Organization – discussed the Housing Element presentation provided by the City
Manager to this organization and expressed her appreciation to City staff as it is clear community
organizations are aware of the Housing Element due to outreach conducted by staff.
Council Member Rishi Kumar
West Valley Clean Water Program Authority – discussed the Classification and Compensation
Study presented to the Board and stated the Board voted to delay taking action to hire full-time
staff.
West Valley Solid Waste Management Joint Powers Authority – stated the Board received a report
related to SB 1383 and discussed the food/organic waste collection cart being provided to
customers to collect food/organic waste.
Vice Mayor Tina Walia
Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority Board of Directors – discussed the Board’s approval of the
FY 21/22 budget including maintaining the 1% customer discount and building reserves; discussed
the savings customers have realized in the past few years; discussed the Board’s updated strategic
focus areas.
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ September 15, 2021 ~ Page 6 of 6
Mayor Yan Zhao
Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Policy Advisory Committee – stated light rail services are
back in service including blue, orange and green lines and stated the service is currently free;
discussed the Government Affairs update including an infrastructure bill being considered by
Congress.
Cities Association of Santa Clara County-City Selection Committee – discussed approval of the
officers of the Board.
Cities Association of Santa Clara County – discussed the report provided from the Joint Ad Hoc
Committee and stated the Board voted to withdraw fiscal sponsorship for the Roundtable with
details to be determined by the end of December.
CITY COUNCIL ITEMS
Bernald/Fitzsimmons requested that the City Council call a Joint Meeting with all Commissions
to review the Mission Statement, Value Statement and the Code of Ethics and determine if any
changes are needed.
Bernald/Fitzsimmons requested that the City Council develop a Zero-Tolerance Policy to include
follow through actions.
Walia/Fitzsimmons requested to have staff prepare an agenda item regarding the Ballot Initiative
‘Californians for Community Planning’ that allows an opportunity for the City Council to provide
direction based on information received.
COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS
Council Member Kumar discussed the comment letter from Cheriel Jensen regarding Saratoga’s
Regional Housing Needs Allocation appeal and discussed his experiences with racist comments.
Council Member Fitzsimmons discussed the comment letter from Cheriel Jensen regarding
Saratoga’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation appeal.
Vice Mayor Walia discussed her support of diversity in Saratoga.
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
None
ADJOURNMENT
BERNALD/FITZSIMMONS MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 9:30 P.M.
MOTION PASSED BY VERBAL ROLL CALL. AYES: BERNALD, FITZSIMMONS, WALIA,
ZHAO: NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. ABSENT: KUMAR.
Minutes respectfully submitted:
Britt Avrit, MMC, City Clerk
City of Saratoga