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Home My WebLink About04-15-2026 City Council MeetingSaratoga City Council Minutes ~ April 15, 2026 ~ Page 1 of 7 MINUTES WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2026 SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING At 6:00 p.m., the City Council held a Joint Session with KSAR. Mayor Page invited public comment. No one requested to speak. Mayor Page called the Regular Session to order at 7:00 p.m. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Mayor Chuck Page, Vice Mayor Tina Walia, Council Members Belal Aftab, Kookie Fitzsimmons, Yan Zhao ABSENT: None ALSO PRESENT: Leslie Arroyo, Acting City Manager Richard Taylor, City Attorney Ryan Hinchman, Administrative Services Director John Cherbone, Public Works Director Bryan Swanson, Community Development Director Britt Avrit, City Clerk REPORT ON POSTING OF THE AGENDA The City Clerk reported the agenda for this meeting was properly posted on April 9, 2026. REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSIONS Mayor Page stated the City Council held a Closed Session Meeting earlier this evening, with no reportable action. REPORT FROM JOINT SESSION Mayor Page stated the City Council held a Study Session at 6:00 p.m., with KSAR; John Dietrich, Station Manager provided a summary of the topics discussed at the Joint Session. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ON NON-AGENDIZED ITEMS; IN-PERSON ATTENDEES None ANNOUNCEMENTS Mayor Page shared information about the Coffee with the Mayor, Arbor Day and Let’s Hike events. Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ April 15, 2026 ~ Page 2 of 7 CEREMONIAL ITEM Proclamation Declaring April 19-25, 2026 as National Library Week Recommended Action: Proclaim April 19-25, 2026 as National Library Week The City Council proclaimed April 19-25, 2026 as National Library Week. Mayor Page invited public comment. No one requested to speak 1. CONSENT CALENDAR Mayor Page invited public comment. No one requested to speak. 1.1 City Council Meeting Minutes Recommended Action: Review and Approve the Minutes for the March 31, 2026, and April 1, 2026, City Council Meetings. AFTAB/ZHAO MOVED TO REVIEW AND APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR THE MARCH 31, 2026, AND APRIL 1, 2026, CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: AFTAB, FITZSIMMONS, ZHAO, WALIA, PAGE. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. 1.2 Accounts Payable Check Registers Recommended Action: Review and accept the 3/26/2026 and 04/02/2026 accounts payable vendor check registers. AFTAB/ZHAO MOVED TO REVIEW AND ACCEPT THE 3/26/2026 AND 04/02/2026 ACCOUNTS PAYABLE VENDOR CHECK REGISTERS. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: AFTAB, FITZSIMMONS, ZHAO, WALIA, PAGE. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. 1.3 Resolution to Establish a List of Projects to be Funded by The Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 for FY 2026-27 Recommended Action: Adopt the Resolution to establish a list of projects to be funded by the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 for FY 2026-27. RESOLUTION 26-019 AFTAB/ZHAO MOVED TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION TO ESTABLISH A LIST OF PROJECTS TO BE FUNDED BY THE ROAD REPAIR AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2017 FOR FY 2026-27. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: AFTAB, FITZSIMMONS, ZHAO, WALIA, PAGE. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ April 15, 2026 ~ Page 3 of 7 1.4 CivicPlus Contract Amendment for Website Services Recommended Action: Authorize the Acting City Manager to execute a contract amendment with CivicPlus for additional website accessibility services in the amount of $54,083, therefore increasing the not-to-exceed amount for this Agreement to $319,372. AFTAB/ZHAO MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE ACTING CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT AMENDMENT WITH CIVICPLUS FOR ADDITIONAL WEBSITE ACCESSIBILITY SERVICES IN THE AMOUNT OF $54,083, THEREFORE INCREASING THE NOT-TO-EXCEED AMOUNT FOR THIS AGREEMENT TO $319,372. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: AFTAB, FITZSIMMONS, ZHAO, WALIA, PAGE. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. 1.5 Amend City Financial Policies Recommended Action: Review and approve updates to the City’s financial policies. AFTAB/ZHAO MOVED TO REVIEW AND APPROVE UPDATES TO THE CITY’S FINANCIAL POLICIES. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: AFTAB, FITZSIMMONS, ZHAO, WALIA, PAGE. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. 2. PUBLIC HEARINGS 2.1 Conduct a Public Hearing to Consider Objections to the Proposed Abatement of Hazardous Weeds for Properties Listed on the 2026 Weed Abatement Program Commencement Report and Order Abatement Recommended Actions: 1. Conduct a public hearing to consider objections to the proposed abatement of hazardous weeds for properties listed on the 2026 Weed Abatement Program Commencement Report and order abatement. 2. Adopt the Resolution ordering abatement on properties identified by the County inspection. Nathan Sagastume, Code Compliance Officer, presented the Staff Report. Mayor Page invited public comment. The following individuals spoke: Bhuraneswari Krishnamurthy, Karen Wold, Matt Christiano, Jen-I Pi, Deanna Yang, Glenda Aune, JW, Trevor Garrod RESOLUTION 26-020 Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ April 15, 2026 ~ Page 4 of 7 PAGE/FITZSIMMONS MOVED TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER OBJECTIONS TO THE PROPOSED ABATEMENT OF HAZARDOUS WEEDS FOR PROPERTIES LISTED ON THE 2026 WEED ABATEMENT PROGRAM COMMENCEMENT REPORT AND ORDER ABATEMENT, AND ADOPT THE RESOLUTION, AS AMENDED - REMOVING 10 PROPERTIES FROM THE LIST, AND LISTING TWO PROPERTIES THAT HAVE UNTIL APRIL 28, 2026 TO COMPLETE ABATEMENT TO THE SATISFACTION OF THE CITY’S CODE COMPLIANCE OFFICER AND THEN BE REMOVED FROM THE LIST - ORDERING ABATEMENT ON PROPERTIES IDENTIFIED BY THE COUNTY INSPECTION WITH DIRECTION GIVEN TO STAFF REGARDING THE LETTERS SENT IN THE FUTURE. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: AFTAB, FITZSIMMONS, ZHAO, WALIA, PAGE. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. 2.2 Resolution Amending the City’s Fee Schedule Effective July 1, 2026 Recommended Action: Adopt the Resolution amending the City’s Fee Schedule, effective July 1, 2026, to implement the proposed fee changes. Ryan Hinchman, Administrative Services Director, presented the Staff Report. Mayor Page invited public comment. No one requested to speak. RESOLUTION 26-021 ZHAO/WALIA MOVED TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION AMENDING THE CITY’S FEE SCHEDULE, EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2026, TO IMPLEMENT THE PROPOSED FEE CHANGES. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: AFTAB, FITZSIMMONS, ZHAO, WALIA, PAGE. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. 3. GENERAL BUSINESS 3.1 Community Event Grant Program Policy Recommended Action: Adopt amended City Council Policy 004 - Community Event and Street Closure Grant Program. Jocelyn Binn, Administrative Analyst, presented the Staff Report. Mayor Page invited public comment. No one requested to speak. Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ April 15, 2026 ~ Page 5 of 7 AFTAB/WALIA MOVED TO ADOPT AMENDED CITY COUNCIL POLICY 004 - COMMUNITY EVENT AND STREET CLOSURE GRANT PROGRAM. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: AFTAB, FITZSIMMONS, ZHAO, WALIA, PAGE. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. 3.2 Extension of Memorandum of Understanding Regarding Conditional Tolling and Withdrawal of Chester/Allendale Builder’s Remedy Project Application No. CPX25- 0004/SUB25-0002/GEO25-0028/ENV25-0017 (Chester Avenue and Allendale Avenue) Recommended Action: Authorize the City Manager to sign the Amendment to Extend Memorandum of Understanding Regarding Conditional Tolling and Withdrawal of Chester/Allendale Builder’s Remedy Project. Bryan Swanson, Community Development Director, presented the Staff Report. Mayor Page invited public comment. The following individual spoke: Sachneel Patel WALIA/FITZSIMMONS MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO SIGN THE AMENDMENT TO EXTEND MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING REGARDING CONDITIONAL TOLLING AND WITHDRAWAL OF CHESTER/ALLENDALE BUILDER’S REMEDY PROJECT. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: AFTAB, FITZSIMMONS, ZHAO, WALIA, PAGE. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. 3.3 Implementation of Actions Required by and Related to SB 707 Recommended Actions: 1. Adopt City Council Policy 009-Technology Disruption Policy replacing Saratoga’s Remote Public Participation Policy. 2. Adopt City Council Policy 010-Teleconference Meeting Policy. 3. Adopt City Council Policy 011-Public Posting Board Policy. 4. Approve the process for receiving and resolving requests for reasonable accommodations. 5. Accept this report documenting compliance with the requirements of SB 707. Britt Avrit, City Clerk and Richard Taylor, City Attorney, presented the Staff Report. Mayor Page invited public comment. No one requested to speak. Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ April 15, 2026 ~ Page 6 of 7 ZHAO/WALIA MOVED TO ADOPT CITY COUNCIL POLICY 009-TECHNOLOGY DISRUPTION POLICY REPLACING SARATOGA’S REMOTE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION POLICY, ADOPT CITY COUNCIL POLICY 010- TELECONFERENCE MEETING POLICY, ADOPT CITY COUNCIL POLICY 011- PUBLIC POSTING BOARD POLICY, APPROVE THE PROCESS FOR RECEIVING AND RESOLVING REQUESTS FOR REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS, AND ACCEPT THIS REPORT DOCUMENTING COMPLIANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF SB 707. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: AFTAB, FITZSIMMONS, ZHAO, WALIA, PAGE. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. Mayor Page requested a recess at this time. Mayor Page reconvened the meeting at 8:47 p.m. 3.4 Receive FY 2025-26 General Fund Budget Preview Recommended Action: Receive the preliminary FY 2026- 27 General Fund budget and five-year forecast, and provide feedback on the proposed budget balancing approach. Ryan Hinchman, Administrative Services Director, presented the Staff Report. Mayor Page invited public comment. No one requested to speak. No vote necessary, receive and file. COUNCIL ASSIGNMENTS Council Member Belal Aftab Saratoga Ministerial Association – stated the Association discussed the upcoming Interfaith Day of Understanding which is tentatively scheduled for May 17, 2026. Council Member Yan Zhao West Valley Sanitation District Board of Directors – stated the Board appointed Chair Zhao and Vice Chair Furtado to an Ad-hoc committee to develop performance goals for the District Manager. Santa Clara Valley Water Commission – stated Valley Water is proposing a 9.1% increase for FY27-FY30 and a 7.4% increase thereafter. Council Member Kookie Fitzsimmons Nothing to report. Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ April 15, 2026 ~ Page 7 of 7 Vice Mayor Tina Walia Cities Association of Santa Clara County Legislative Action Committee – Stated the Committee discussed multiple bills and recommended support of three. Cities Association of Santa Clara County Board of Directors – Stated the Board received a presentation from the Santa Clara County Emergency Management Director and Deputy Director, and the Board approved sending letters of support for legislation recommended by the Legislative Action Committee. Mayor Chuck Page Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority Board of Directors – stated the Board provided input on the Integrated Decarbonization Roadmap, discussed SVCE Programs, and stated a building SVCE purchased in 2025 is nearing completion for move in. CITY COUNCIL ITEMS Page/Aftab requested an item be brought back for discussion regarding becoming a Charter City, as well as looking into possible revenue sources for the City. COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS None CITY MANAGER’S REPORT None CITY ATTORNEY'S REPORT None ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ON NON-AGENDIZED ITEMS; VIRTUAL ATTENDEES None ADJOURNMENT Mayor Page adjourned the meeting at 9:35 p.m. Minutes respectfully submitted: Britt Avrit, MMC, City Clerk City of Saratoga