HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-04-2013 Safety Element Study Session minutes MINUTES
FEBRUARY 4,2013
SARATOGA SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
SAFETY ELEMENT UPDATE STUDY SESSION
SARATOGA CITY HALL—ADMINISTRATIVE CONFERENCE ROOM
CALL MEETING TO ORDER
Mayor Hunter called the Special Meeting to order at 6:06 p.m. in the City Hall Administrative
Conference at 13777 Fruitvale Avenue.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT Council Members Chuck Page, Manny Cappello,Howard Miller,
Vice Mayor Emily Lo,Mayor Jill Hunter
ABSENT: None
ALSO PRESENT: Dave Anderson, City Manager
Crystal Bothelio, City Clerk
John Cherbone, Public Works Director
James Lindsay, Community Development Director
Cynthia McCormick, Planner
Aaron Pfannenstiel,RBF Consulting Project Manager
Jim Yoke, Santa Clara County Fire Department Emergency
Services Coordinator
REPORT ON POSTING OF AGENDA
City Clerk Crystal Bothelio reported that pursuant to Gov't. Code 54954.2, the agenda for this
meeting was properly posted on January 31, 2013.
COMMUNICATIONS FROM COMMISSIONS & PUBLIC
Oral Communications on Non-Aaendized Items
None
Council Direction to Staff
None
1. City of Saratoga General Plan Safety Element Update
Recommended Action:
Review, consider, ask questions, and discuss the proposed update to the Safety Element
of the City of Saratoga General Plan.
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City Clerk Crystal Bothelio introduced Aaron Pfannenstiel, Project Manager with RBF
Consulting.
Aaron Pfannenstiel provided a presentation on the proposed update to the Safety Element
of the City's General Plan, including an overview of the update process and proposed
changes.
Council Member Miller asked that the area of potential inundation near Highway 85 on
Exhibit 5—Dam Failure Inundation Areas be confirmed. The exhibit shows potential
inundation in the northeast portion of the map ending at Highway 85, even though
Saratoga Creek continues past Highway 85.
Council Member Miller asked that Exhibit 8—Evacuation Routes be updated to include
Mount Eden Road be included as an evacuation route.
Council Member Cappello also requested that Mount Eden Road be added as an
evacuation route.
Council Member Miller observed that there are a high number of trees within the City,
creating a greater amount of fuel load. He asked that fuel load, in terms of number of
trees,be addressed in the policy statements of the Safety Element. The language on fuel
load should address both mitigation and response components.
City Manager Dave Anderson proposed including language on partnership with the Santa
Clara County FireSafe Council to reduce fire load in the City's Wildland-Urban Interface
and prepare Community Wildfire Protection Plan for hillside areas that are most
vulnerable to wildfires.
Council Member Miller moved to remove Policy SAF-4.3. There was no second to the
motion. Council Member Miller withdrew his motion.
PAGE/MILLER MOVED TO DISCUSS REMOVAL OF POLICY SAF-4.3 WITH
THE SARATOGA FIRE DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS AND REMOVE THIS
SECTION IF THE FIRE COMMISSIONERS ARE AMENABLE TO IT. MOTION
PASSED. AYES: PAGE, CAPPELLO, MILLER, LO, HUNTER. NOES: NONE.
ABSENT: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE.
COUNCIL DIRECTION:
The City Council directed staff to make the following changes to the draft Safety
Element:
Remove directional arrows Exhibit 8—Evacuation Routes
Remove removal of primary and secondary route distinctions on Exhibit 8 —
Evacuation Routes
Add Mount Eden Road and Norton Road as evacuation routes on Exhibit 8—
Evacuation Routes
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Add language to the policy section of the Safety Element that indicates that the
City will work with the Santa Clara County FireSafe Council to reduce of fuel
load in the City's Wildland-Urban Interface and Community Wildfire Protection
Plan to address concerns regarding fire mitigation and response.
ADJOURNMENT
Page/Lo moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:32 p.m. Motion passed. AYES: PAGE, CAPPELLO,
MILLER, LO, HUNTER. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE.
Minutes respectfully submitted:
AV‘'‘QA'-‘a
Crystal Bothelio, City Clerk
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