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Home My WebLink About11-06-2024 City Council MeetingSaratoga City Council Minutes ~ November 6, 2024 ~ Page 1 of 5 MINUTES WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2024 SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING At 6:00 p.m., the City Council held a Joint Session with Saratoga Schools in S. Ku Hall, at the Saratoga Senior Center. Mayor Zhao invited public comment. No one requested to speak. Mayor Zhao called the Regular Session to order at 7:00 p.m. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Mayor Yan Zhao, Vice Mayor Belal Aftab, Council Members Kookie Fitzsimmons, Chuck Page, Tina Walia ABSENT: None ALSO PRESENT: Matt Morley, City Manager Richard Taylor, City Attorney John Cherbone, Public Works Director Bryan Swanson, Community Development Director Ryan Hinchman, Administrative Services Director Britt Avrit, City Clerk REPORT ON POSTING OF THE AGENDA The City Clerk reported the agenda for this meeting was properly posted on November 1, 2024. REPORT FROM JOINT SESSION Mayor Zhao stated the City Council held a Joint Session at 6:00 p.m. with Saratoga Schools and provided a summary of the participants in the Joint Session. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ON NON-AGENDIZED ITEMS; IN-PERSON ATTENDEES The following individuals spoke at this time: Anil Batra discussed a piece of property in Saratoga. Janie Lin discussed the Community Garden. ANNOUNCEMENTS Mayor Zhao shared information about the Mayor’s Office Hours at the Farmers Market, Let’s Work! Volunteer Day at Quarry Park, and the Annual Holiday Tree Lighting. Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ November 6, 2024 ~ Page 2 of 5 1. CONSENT CALENDAR Mayor Zhao invited public comment. The following individual spoke at this time: JoJo Choi 1.1. City Council Meeting Minutes Recommended Action: Approve the Minutes for the October 15, 2024, City Council Meeting. PAGE/AFTAB MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR THE OCTOBER 15, 2024, CITY COUNCIL MEETING. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: FITZSIMMONS, PAGE, WALIA, AFTAB, ZHAO. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. 1.2. Accounts Payable Check Registers Recommended Action: Review and accept the 10/10/2024, 10/17/2024, and 10/24/2024 accounts payable vendor payment check registers. PAGE/AFTAB MOVED TO REVIEW AND ACCEPT THE 10/10/2024, 10/17/2024, AND 10/24/2024 ACCOUNTS PAYABLE VENDOR PAYMENT CHECK REGISTERS. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: FITZSIMMONS, PAGE, WALIA, AFTAB, ZHAO. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. 1.3. Treasurer’s Report for the Month Ended September 30, 2024 Recommended Action: Review and accept the Treasurer’s Report for the month ended September 30, 2024. PAGE/AFTAB MOVED TO REVIEW AND ACCEPT THE TREASURER’S REPORT FOR THE MONTH ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2024. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: FITZSIMMONS, PAGE, WALIA, AFTAB, ZHAO. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. 1.4. Ordinance Amending Articles 15-18,15-19, 15-35, 15-45, 15-56, 15-57, and 15-58 of the Saratoga City Code to Implement Programs of the 2023-2031 Housing Element. Recommended Action: Waive reading and adopt the ordinance amending Chapter 15 (Zoning Regulations) of the Saratoga City Code to implement programs of the 2023-2031 Housing Element. ORDINANCE 405 PAGE/AFTAB MOVED TO WAIVE READING AND ADOPT THE ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 15 (ZONING REGULATIONS) OF THE SARATOGA CITY CODE TO IMPLEMENT PROGRAMS OF THE 2023-2031 HOUSING ELEMENT. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: FITZSIMMONS, PAGE, WALIA, AFTAB, ZHAO. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ November 6, 2024 ~ Page 3 of 5 1.5. Landscaping & Lighting Assessment District LLA-1; Resolutions initiating renewal of the District for FY 25-26. Recommended Actions: 1. Adopt the Resolution describing improvements and directing preparation of the Engineer’s Report. 2. Adopt the Resolution appointing the Attorney’s for the District. RESOLUTION 24-059 RESOLUTION 24-060 PAGE/AFTAB MOVED TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION DESCRIBING IMPROVEMENTS AND DIRECTING PREPARATION OF THE ENGINEER’S REPORT AND ADOPT THE RESOLUTION APPOINTING THE ATTORNEY’S FOR THE DISTRICT. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: FITZSIMMONS, PAGE, WALIA, AFTAB, ZHAO. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. 2. GENERAL BUSINESS 2.1. Economic Vitality Ad Hoc Committee Report Recommended Action: Review recommendations of the Economic Vitality Ad Hoc Committee and provide direction to staff on next steps. Council Member Fitzsimmons stated she owns property in the Village and will be recusing herself from the discussion involving the Village. Matt Morley, City Manager, presented the staff report. Mayor Zhao invited public comment. The following individuals spoke at this time: Jacqueline Holmes, Gabe Calebotta, Jim Cargill, Rafik, Ilaria, Frank Behnke. Council Member Fitzsimmons left the dais at this time. AFTAB/PAGE MOVED TO PROCEED WITH A PILOT PROGRAM WITH HERO RANCH, UTILIZING THREE PARKING SPACES. MOTION FAILED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: PAGE, AFTAB. NOES: WALIA, ZHAO. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: FITZSIMMONS. ABSENT: NONE. Council Member Fitzsimmons returned to the dais at this time. Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ November 6, 2024 ~ Page 4 of 5 AFTAB/PAGE MOVED TO DIRECT STAFF TO 1) PROVIDE INFORMATION FOR A FAÇADE AND OVERALL BUSINESS GRANT PROGRAM AT A JANUARY BUDGET MEETING; 2) SCOPE THE COSTS, PROCESS, AND POTENTIAL STAKEHOLDERS FOR A MARKETING AND PROMOTION PLAN; 3) SCOPE THE COSTS, PROCESS AND STAKEHOLDERS FOR INCREASING THE NUMBER OF COMMUNITY EVENTS HELD IN SARATOGA; 4) SCOPE THE COSTS, PROCESS AND STAKEHOLDERS FOR DEVELOPING A BUSINESS DATABASE AND WHAT THE DATABASE WOULD BE USED FOR; 5) PROVIDE INFORMATION TO DISCUSS POTENTIAL ORDINANCES RELATED TO REGISTERING VACANT SPACE AND THE USES OF VACANT SPACE. Council Member Walia requested a friendly amendment regarding the “façade” grant program. Vice Mayor Aftab stated the façade program would be similar to that of the “Business Renewal and Beautification Program” in 2021. AFTAB/PAGE MOVED TO DIRECT STAFF TO 1) PROVIDE INFORMATION FOR DISCUSSION OF A BUSINESS RENEWAL AND BEAUTIFICATION PROGRAM AT A JANUARY BUDGET MEETING; 2) SCOPE THE COSTS, PROCESS, AND POTENTIAL STAKEHOLDERS FOR A MARKETING AND PROMOTION PLAN; 3) SCOPE THE COSTS, PROCESS AND STAKEHOLDERS FOR INCREASING THE NUMBER OF COMMUNITY EVENTS HELD IN SARATOGA; 4) SCOPE THE COSTS, PROCESS AND STAKEHOLDERS FOR DEVELOPING A BUSINESS DATABASE AND WHAT THE DATABASE WOULD BE USED FOR; 5) PROVIDE INFORMATION TO DISCUSS POTENTIAL ORDINANCES RELATED TO REGISTERING VACANT SPACE AND THE USES OF VACANT SPACE. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: FITZSIMMONS, PAGE, WALIA, AFTAB, ZHAO. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. Mayor Zhao requested that staff bring forward a resolution to consider ending the Economic Vitality Ad Hoc Committee. COUNCIL ASSIGNMENTS Council Member Kookie Fitzsimmons Nothing to report. Council Member Tina Walia Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority Board of Directors – stated she attended the meeting with nothing to report. Cities Association of Santa Clara County Board of Directors – stated an email has been sent to the City Councils of the member Cities regarding the annual meeting in December. Council Member Chuck Page Santa Clara Valley Water Commission – stated the Commission discussed their work plan, how rates and rate increases are communicated, and making rates more reasonable. Vice Mayor Belal Aftab Nothing to report. Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ November 6, 2024 ~ Page 5 of 5 Mayor Yan Zhao West Valley Mayors and City Managers Association – stated the term for the Silicon Valley Regional Interoperability Authority assignment was discussed and changed to two years. CITY COUNCIL ITEMS Aftab/Zhao requested a review of City owned properties. COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS Vice Mayor Aftab discussed his disappointment regarding the approval of the proposed Costco by the City of San Jose. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT The City Manager congratulated Finance Manager Ann Xu for her recent graduation from the Leadership Academy. CITY ATTORNEY'S REPORT None ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ON NON-AGENDIZED ITEMS; VIRTUAL ATTENDEES No one requested to speak. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Zhao adjourned the meeting at 9:28 p.m. Minutes respectfully submitted: Britt Avrit, City Clerk City of Saratoga