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Home My WebLink About02-05-2025 City Council MeetingSaratoga City Council Minutes ~ February 5, 2025 ~ Page 1 of 6 MINUTES WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2025 SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING At 5:00 p.m., the City Council held a Closed Session in the Linda Callon Conference Room. Mayor Aftab invited public comment. No one requested to speak. At 6:00 p.m., the City Council held a Joint Session with Successful Aging Solutions & Community Consulting (SASCC). Mayor Aftab invited public comment. No one requested to speak. Mayor Aftab called the Regular Session to order at 7:00 p.m. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Mayor Belal Aftab, Vice Mayor Chuck Page, Council Members Kookie Fitzsimmons, Tina Walia, Yan Zhao ABSENT: None ALSO PRESENT: Matt Morley, City Manager Richard Taylor, City Attorney Leslie Arroyo, Assistant City Manager 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 January 30, 2025. REPORT FROM STUDY SESSION Mayor Aftab stated the City Council held a Joint Session at 6:00 p.m. with Successful Aging Solutions & Community Consulting (SASCC); Tylor Taylor, SASCC CEO provided a brief summary of the Joint Session. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ON NON-AGENDIZED ITEMS; IN-PERSON ATTENDEES The following individuals spoke at this time: Dagmar Derickson discussed district elections for Los Gatos Saratoga Union High School District Board of Trustees. Mona Kaur discussed Planning Commissioner Kausar’s Builder’s Remedy project. Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ February 5, 2025 ~ Page 2 of 6 Mohini Balakrishnan discussed personal, financial and personal interests in SB330 projects. Carolyn Brandwajn discussed foot traffic in downtown Saratoga. Jim Solomon discussed Saratoga Village vitalization. John Rees discussed Saratoga Village. ANNOUNCEMENTS Mayor Aftab shared information about Valentine’s Day Love Notes in the Village and Let’s Work Saratoga. Council Member Fitzsimmons shared information about Fencing Demo at Hakone and Hakone’s Lunar New Year Celebration. CEREMONIAL ITEMS Appointment of Library & Public Art Commissioners Recommended Action: Adopt the Resolution appointing Jeri Bromley, Lakshmi Sharma, and Anshul Agarwal to the Library & Public Art Commission and direct the City Clerk to administer the Oath of Office. RESOLUTION 25-001 WALIA/ZHAO MOVED TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION APPOINTING JERI BROMLEY, LAKSHMI SHARMA, AND ANSHUL AGARWAL TO THE LIBRARY & PUBLIC ART COMMISSION AND DIRECT THE CITY CLERK TO ADMINISTER THE OATH OF OFFICE. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: FITZSIMMONS, WALIA, ZHAO, PAGE, AFTAB. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. 1. CONSENT CALENDAR Mayor Aftab invited public comment. No one requested to speak. 1.1. City Council Meeting Minutes Recommended Action: Approve the Minutes for the January 15, 2025, City Council Meeting and the January 24, 2025, City Council Special Meeting. PAGE/FITZSIMMONS MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR THE JANUARY 15, 2025, CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND THE JANUARY 24, 2025, CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: FITZSIMMONS, WALIA, ZHAO, PAGE, AFTAB. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ February 5, 2025 ~ Page 3 of 6 1.2. Accounts Payable Check Registers Recommended Action: Review and accept the 01/08/2025, 01/15/2025, and 01/22/2025 accounts payable vendor payment check registers. PAGE/FITZSIMMONS MOVED TO REVIEW AND ACCEPT THE 01/08/2025, 01/15/2025, AND 01/22/2025 ACCOUNTS PAYABLE VENDOR PAYMENT CHECK REGISTERS. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: FITZSIMMONS, WALIA, ZHAO, PAGE, AFTAB. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. 1.3. Treasurer's Report for the Month Ended December 31, 2024 Recommended Action: Review and accept the Treasurer's Report for the month ended December 31, 2024. PAGE/FITZSIMMONS MOVED TO REVIEW AND ACCEPT THE TREASURER'S REPORT FOR THE MONTH ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2024. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: FITZSIMMONS, WALIA, ZHAO, PAGE, AFTAB. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. 2. GENERAL BUSINESS 2.1. Request for Proposals for the Heritage Orchard Maintenance Contract Recommended Action: Provide direction for the content of the Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Heritage Orchard Maintenance Contract. John Cherbone, Public Works Director, presented the staff report. Mayor Aftab invited public comment. The following individuals spoke at this time: Neal Casteel, Jacqui Holmes, Matthew Sutton, Brad Rarr, Lorraine Rader, Bernie Mills, Stan Bogosian, Chris Cruz, Riley Adler, Lisa Newman, Darrin FITZSIMMONS/PAGE MOVED TO DIRECT STAFF TO INCLUDE FIVE CATEGORIES IN THE RFP: 1-APPROACH TO ORCHARD MANAGEMENT, 2- EXPERIENCE IN COMMERCIAL ORCHARD MANAGEMENT, 3-SARATOGA HERITAGE AND LOCAL PRESENCE, 4-OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT, 5- COST IMPACT TO THE CITY, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON OPTION NUMBER THREE AS PROVIDED IN THE STAFF REPORT “DETERMINE A PORTION OF THE FRUIT HARVEST BE DONE FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES AND A PORTION BY THE PUBLIC AND VOLUNTEERS WITH SOME FRUIT DISTRIBUTED TO FOOD BANKS.” Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ February 5, 2025 ~ Page 4 of 6 ZHAO/WALIA MOVED TO DIRECT STAFF TO MOVE FORWARD WITH OPTION NUMBER ONE AS PROVIDED IN THE STAFF REPORT “CONTINUE THE FRUIT HARVEST AS IT CURRENTLY EXISTS, WHICH INCLUDES A COMBINATION OF PUBLIC AND VOLUNTEERS AND FRUIT DISTRIBUTED TO FOOD BANKS.” MOTION FAILED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: WALIA, ZHAO. NOES: FITZSIMMONS, PAGE, AFTAB. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. Mayor Aftab requested a friendly amendment directing staff to move forward with option three as provided in the staff report “determine a portion of the fruit harvest be done for commercial purposes and a portion by the public and volunteers with some fruit distributed to food banks,” and request that submitting vendors answer questions related to five categories; 1-approach to orchard management, 2-experience in commercial orchard management, 3-saratoga heritage and local presence, 4-outreach and engagement, 5-cost impact to the city. FITZSIMMONS/PAGE MOVED TO DIRECT STAFF TO MOVE FORWARD WITH OPTION THREE AS PROVIDED IN THE STAFF REPORT “DETERMINE A PORTION OF THE FRUIT HARVEST BE DONE FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES AND A PORTION BY THE PUBLIC AND VOLUNTEERS WITH SOME FRUIT DISTRIBUTED TO FOOD BANKS,” AND REQUEST THAT SUBMITTING VENDORS ANSWER QUESTIONS RELATED TO FIVE CATEGORIES; 1- APPROACH TO ORCHARD MANAGEMENT, 2-EXPERIENCE IN COMMERCIAL ORCHARD MANAGEMENT, 3-SARATOGA HERITAGE AND LOCAL PRESENCE, 4-OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT, 5-COST IMPACT TO THE CITY. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: FITZSIMMONS, PAGE, AFTAB. NOES: WALIA, ZHAO. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. Mayor Aftab requested a recess at this time. Mayor Aftab reconvened the meeting at 9:20 p.m. 2.2. Safe Routes to School Master Plan – Implementation Plan Development Contract with Fehr and Peers Recommended Action: 1. Award a contract to Fehr and Peers for the design of traffic safety improvements contained in the Safe Routes to School Master Plan for a total contract amount not to exceed $173,000. 2. Authorize staff to execute change orders to the contract up to 10% in the amount of $17,300. Mainini Cabute, Environmental Programs Manager, presented the staff report. Mayor Aftab invited public comment. The following individual spoke at this time: Bernie Mills Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ February 5, 2025 ~ Page 5 of 6 PAGE/WALIA MOVED TO AWARD A CONTRACT TO FEHR AND PEERS FOR THE DESIGN OF TRAFFIC SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS CONTAINED IN THE SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL MASTER PLAN FOR A TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $173,000 AND AUTHORIZE STAFF TO EXECUTE CHANGE ORDERS TO THE CONTRACT UP TO 10% IN THE AMOUNT OF $17,300. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: FITZSIMMONS, WALIA, ZHAO, PAGE, AFTAB. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. 2.3. Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Improvements Recommended Action: Accept the report regarding Saratoga’s efforts toward pedestrian and bicycle safety. Mainini Cabute, Environmental Programs Manager, presented the staff report. Mayor Aftab invited public comment. No one requested to speak. No motion necessary, receive and file. 2.4. Discussion on City Code Compliance Policy Specific to Protecting the Identity of Complainants Recommended Action: Receive the report on the City’s Code Compliance policy with respect to protecting the identity of complainants. Aaron Yuma, Building Official presented the staff report. Mayor Aftab invited public comment. No one requested to speak. No motion necessary, receive and file. COUNCIL ASSIGNMENTS Council Member Yan Zhao Saratoga Ministerial Association – stated she attended the meeting with nothing to report. Silicon Valley Regional Interoperability Authority – stated the Board appointed Santa Clara City Council Member Karen Hardy as Chair, and Gilroy City Council Member Tom Cline as Vice Chair; stated fees for the Authority may be increasing. Council Member Kookie Fitzsimmons KSAR 15 Saratoga Community Access Cable Television Foundation Board of Directors – stated the Board is enthusiastic about expansion and possibilities moving forward. Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ February 5, 2025 ~ Page 6 of 6 Council Member Tina Walia Cities Association of Santa Clara County City Selection Committee – stated the Committee approved multiple committee positions. Cities Association of Santa Clara County Board of Directors – stated the Board discussed the 2025 Board priorities. Vice Mayor Chuck Page Santa Clara Valley Water Commission – stated the Board discussed rates which could increase by 10% every year until 2035. Mayor Belal Aftab US Conference of Mayors – stated he attended many sessions covering a wide range of topics and thanked the Council for approving the out-of-state travel. Disaster Council – stated the Council received an overview of the EOC, the role of elected officials, approved CERT training, and provided emergency services updates. Santa Clara County Library District Board of Directors – stated the Board reviewed the 10-year capital plan and the 5-year forecast. Saratoga Historical Foundation Board of Directors – stated the Blossom Festival is tentatively scheduled for May 17, 2025. CITY COUNCIL ITEMS Mayor Aftab requested a partners/partners from the City Council to host community meetings related to traffic in two areas of the City; Vice Mayor Page and Council Member Walia expressed interest. COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS None CITY MANAGER’S REPORT None CITY ATTORNEY'S REPORT None ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ON NON-AGENDIZED ITEMS; VIRTUAL ATTENDEES No one requested to speak. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Aftab adjourned the meeting at 10:04 p.m. Minutes respectfully submitted: Britt Avrit, City Clerk City of Saratoga