HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-08-1975 City Council Minutes MINUTES
SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL
TIME: Tuesday, july 8, 1975 - 7:30
PLACE: Crisp Conference Room, City Hall,,l13777-Fru~t~ale Ave., Saratoga, California
TYPE: Adjourned Regular Meeting
I. ROLL CALL
Present:'Councilmen Brigham, Bridges, Kraus, Matteoni, Corr
Absent: None
II. CONSIDERATION OF REPORT BY CITY MANAGER RE: LIBRARY ACQUISI'TION DISCUSSIONS
The City Manager briefly summarized thereport which he had submitted to the
City Counci'l in writing concerning the library site'discussions. In that
report, he reiterated'the history of how the present site had been determined
as a library site after extensive public hearings in-1973 and 1974. He
emphasized that the City Council had supported this site location because of
its proximity to the population center of Saratoga.
He reviewed the nature of the negotiations to date for this property and
indicated that there were basically four (4) parameters within which he was
working. The first was timing. This was based onthe need to get a decision
made on the library site !in orderto-determine ~the'amoun~of'money that -
would be spend for land, as opposed to the bui.lding. This is necessary infor-
mation prior to being able to sell the bonds for ~theproposed project.
The second element discussed were the d~elopment impacts on the property. The
concern is not only one of having the library constructed onlthe site, but
the adjacent impacts with this construction, both on the l~ibraryi'tself and on
the future u'se of the adjacent property. Several site alternatives have been
reviewed on the site,'and has been narrowed down to one site toward'the back
corner of the parcel adjacent to the creek.
~.third consideration was .the cost of the land. This-ha~ been a ke~ discussion
4 point, and is one of the r~asons why the site beinq-reviewed towardsthe back of the
property is now under consideration. Originallya si"te at the front of the
property was considered, but based on an initial=appraisal, it was too expensive
for the City, and therefore, another locati6~ o~the p~opertywas'considered~
The fourth i~tem were the initial objectives and evaluations of the Library
Workshop Con~nittee, which had been developed bythe architect,,the City
Council, Planning Commission, and other members of the Committee, to determine
the type, styl e, and function of the library in Saratoga. It was necessary to
review these items and make sure that the site and the trade-offs and alter-
natives reviewed would not compromise these !ihg~edients.
· . Beyer reported that to date, he had not been able to arrive at an agree-
ment with the property owner concerning the price of the property. There were
various trade-offs involved, particularly as it related~to future development
6f the adjacent site, which were necessary elements which had to be resolved
prior to arriving at a determination. Because it was felt these could not be
ironed out in a reasonable period of time, and'because the cost of the land
seemingly could not be finalized unti~l the potential use of the rest of the
land was determined, it was~recon~nended that discussions be terminated with
'the current property owner, and that an a~ternate site, ~ocated on Saratoga
Avenue,~be considered by the Ci-ty Counci~l. This site is located on City-owned
land and is adjacent to Sacred Heart Church.
The City Manager further recommended that a public hearing be scheduled to
publical~y discuss the alternate site, and to express whyl negotiations have
not been completed on the preferred si'te on Saratoga Avenue near Cox.
Councilman Matteoni felt that i~t would. be appropriate to go ahead with the
recommended public'hearing, but not toterminate negotiations on the site.
He was committed to!the planning process, and'fel t that any future land use
decisions concerning the site on Saratoga Avenue near Cox would have to go
through the Planning review process.
Councilman Brigham indicated he felt that. discussions shou~d~be terminated, as
he felt timing was very-important and that we couldlnot delay any longer. He
recognized the problems with the bonds and the sale of same, and felt that this
should be done as soon aspossible.
Mayor Bridges indicated his reluctance'in coming off of~the approved site. A
great amount of effort has gone into :its determination, andhe still feels that
the reasons for the site selection are valid.
Councilwoman Corr supported.Councilman Ma~teoni~'s proposal' to set the public
hearing on the alternate site, but to not short-relate negotiations atthis time.
· Councilman Kraus indicated that he wants to see a'$t.2 millon buildi~ng, and felt
that~.the best locationswas on'Saratoga Avenue where it could be seen, and not
in the back of the property. He was Supportive of,~leaving the issue open for
the present ti'me until after the publi~c hearing was held.
The Council, after some further discussion, approved'leaving the discussions open
with the property owner at the corner of Saratoga Avenue and Cox, and setting a
public hearing for July 29, 1975, at 8:00 P.M., in the City Council Chambers, to
discuss the alternate site.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
pectf itted,
Rob