HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-03-2017 City Council minutesMINUTES
WEDNESDAY, MAY 3, 2017
SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
At 5:00 p.m., the City Council held a Joint Meeting with Saratoga Community Access TV -
KSAR Board of Directors in the City Hall, Administrative Conference Room at 13777 Fruitvale
Avenue in Saratoga. Following this meeting, the City Council held a Joint Meeting with the
Santa Clara County Fire Department and Santa Clara County FireSafe Council.
At 7:03 p.m., Mayor Lo called the regular session to order in the Civic Theater at 13777
Fruitvale Avenue in Saratoga and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Mayor Emily Lo, Vice Mayor Mary -Lynne Bernald, Council
Members Manny Cappello, Howard Miller, Rishi Kumar
ABSENT: None
ALSO PRESENT: James Lindsay, City Manager
Crystal Bothelio, City Clerk/Asst. to City Manager
John Cherbone, Public Works Director
Mary Furey, Finance & Administrative Services Director
Erwin Ordonez, Community Development Director
Michael Taylor, Recreation & Facilities Director
REPORT ON POSTING OF THE AGENDA
Crystal Bothelio, City Clerk/Asst. to the City Manager, reported that the agenda for this meeting
was properly posted on April 27, 2017.
REPORT FROM JOINT MEETING
Tom Moran, KSAR President Board, provided an overview of the City Council's Joint Meeting
with KSAR, including a summary of the Community Loop program.
Santa Clara County Fire Department Deputy Chief Steve Prziborowski, Santa Clara County Fire
Department Deputy Chief John Justice, and Santa Clara County FireSafe Council Executive
Director Patty Ciesla provided an overview of the City Council's Joint Meeting with County Fire
and the FireSafe Council.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ON NON-AGENDIZED ITEMS
None
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Lo announced the Hakone Matsuri Festival on May 21, 2017, the Honoring Saratogans
Diner also on May 21, and shared information about current Commission recruitments.
Saratoga City Council Minutes — Page 1 of 7
CEREMONIAL ITEMS
Asian American and Pacific Islanders Heritage Month
Recommended Action:
Present proclamation to Saratoga resident Ginger Lai declaring May 2017 as Asian American
and Pacific Islanders Heritage Month.
Mayor Lo and members of the Saratoga City Council presented the Asian American and Pacific
Islands Heritage Month proclamation to Ginger Lai.
National Arson Awareness Week May 7-13, 2017
Recommended Action:
Present proclamation on May 7-13, 2017 as National Arson Awareness Week.
Mayor Lo and members of the Saratoga City Council presented the National Arson Awareness
Week proclamation to representatives of the Santa Clara County Fire Department.
Proclamation Declaring May 2017 as National Preservation Month and 35th Anniversary of the
Heritage Preservation Commission
Recommended Action:
Present the proclamation declaring May 2017 as National Preservation Month and celebrating
the 35th anniversary of the Heritage Preservation Commission to the City of Saratoga Heritage
Preservation Commission.
Mayor Lo and members of the Saratoga City Council presented the proclamation declaring May
2017 as National Preservation Month and celebrating the 35th anniversary of the Heritage
Preservation Commission to current and past members of the Saratoga Heritage Preservation
Commission.
Proclamation Declaring May 2017 as Foster Care/Resource Parent Appreciation Month
Recommended Action:
Present the proclamation declaring May 2017 as Foster Care/Resource Parent Appreciation
Month to Saratoga Foster Care parents.
Mayor Lo and members of the Saratoga City Council presented the Foster Care/Resource Parent
Appreciation Month proclamation to Priscilla Mojica-Angulo with the Santa Clara County Social
Services Agency.
1. CONSENT CALENDAR
1.1. City Council Meeting Minutes
Recommended Action:
Approve the City Council minutes for the Regular City Council Meeting on April 19, 2017.
MILLER/KUMAR MOVED TO APPROVE THE CITY COUNCIL MINUTES FOR THE
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON APRIL 19, 2017. MOTION PASSED. AYES:
LO, BERNALD, CAPPELLO, MILLER, KUMAR. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE.
ABSENT: NONE.
Saratoga City Council Minutes — Page 2 of 7
1.2. Review of Accounts Payable Check Registers
Recommended Action:
Review and accept check registers for the following accounts payable payment cycles: 4/18/2017
Period 10; and 4/25/2017 Period 10.
MILLER/KUMAR MOVED TO ACCEPT CHECK REGISTERS FOR THE FOLLOWING
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE PAYMENT CYCLES: 4/18/2017 PERIOD 10; AND 4/25/2017
PERIOD 10. MOTION PASSED. AYES: LO, BERNALD, CAPPELLO, MILLER, KUMAR.
NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
1.3. Treasurer's Report for the Month Ended March 31, 2017
Recommended Action:
Review and accept the amended Treasurer's Report for the month ended March 31, 2017.
MILLER/KUMAR MOVED TO ACCEPT THE AMENDED TREASURER'S REPORT
FOR THE MONTH ENDED MARCH 3L 2017. MOTION PASSED. AYES: LO,
BERNALD, CAPPELLO, MILLER, KUMAR. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. ABSENT:
NONE.
1.4. Ordinance Amendment to the City's Beekeeping Regulations (City Code Section 7-20.230)
Recommended Action:
Waive the second reading and adopt the attached ordinance revising the City Code Section 7-
20.230 (Beekeeping Ordinance).
ORDINANCE NO. 347
MILLER/KUMAR MOVED TO WAIVE THE SECOND READING AND ADOPT THE
ATTACHED ORDINANCE REVISING THE CITY CODE SECTION 7-20.230
(BEEKEEPING ORDINANCE). MOTION PASSED. AYES: LO, BERNALD, CAPPELLO,
MILLER, KUMAR. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
1.5. Adoption of a Resolution of Necessity to Acquire a Public Trail Easement over San Jose
Water Company Property (APN 503-73-003) to Connect Quarry Park and Sanborn County Park
Trail Networks
Recommended Action:
Adopt a Resolution of Necessity making the appropriate findings to initiate acquisition of a
public trail easement over San Jose Water Company Property (APN 503-73-003) to connect
public trail networks in Quarry Park and Sanborn County Park ("Project").
RESOLUTION NO. 17-023
MILLER/KUMAR MOVED TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION OF NECESSITY MAKING
THE APPROPRIATE FINDINGS TO INITIATE ACQUISITION OF A PUBLIC TRAIL
EASEMENT OVER SAN JOSE WATER COMPANY PROPERTY (APN 503-73-003) TO
CONNECT PUBLIC TRAIL NETWORKS IN QUARRY PARK AND SANBORN
COUNTY PARK ("PROJECT"). MOTION PASSED. AYES: LO, BERNALD, CAPPELLO,
MILLER, KUMAR. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
Before the vote on the Consent Calendar, Council Member Miller commented on efforts to build
the Saratoga to the Sea Trail.
Saratoga City Council Minutes — Page 3 of 7
2. PUBLIC HEARING
2.1. Conduit Financing for the Fellowship Plaza Apartments
Recommended Action:
1) Conduct a public hearing under the requirements of Tax and Equity Fiscal Responsibility
Act (TEFRA) and Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; and
2) Adopt the resolution, solely for the purposes of satisfying the requirements of TEFRA, the
Code and the California Government Code Section 6500 (and following), approving the
issuance of bonds by the California Municipal Finance Authority for the benefit of the
California Odd Fellows Foundation, Inc. and EAH Inc., or a subsidiary affiliate thereof (the
Borrower), to provide the financing of the in financing the acquisition, rehabilitation,
improvement and equipping of a 150 -unit affordable rental housing facility to be owned and
operated by the Borrower and located at 14520 Fruitvale Avenue within the City of
Saratoga, California
Crystal Bothelio, City Clerk/Asst. to the City Manager, presented the staff report on this item.
Representatives from the California Municipal Finance Authority and EAH Inc. responded to
questions from the City Council.
Mayor Lo invited public comment.
No one requested to speak.
RESOLUTION NO. 17-024
CAPPELLO/BERNALD MOVED TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION, SOLELY FOR THE
PURPOSES OF SATISFYING THE REQUIREMENTS OF TEFRA, THE CODE AND
THE CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 6500 (AND FOLLOWING),
APPROVING THE ISSUANCE OF BONDS BY THE CALIFORNIA MUNICIPAL
FINANCE AUTHORITY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CALIFORNIA ODD FELLOWS
FOUNDATION, INC. AND EAH INC., OR A SUBSIDIARY AFFILIATE THEREOF
(THE BORROWER), TO PROVIDE THE FINANCING OF THE IN FINANCING THE
ACQUISITION, REHABILITATION, IMPROVEMENT AND EQUIPPING OF A 150 -
UNIT AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING FACILITY TO BE OWNED AND
OPERATED BY THE BORROWER AND LOCATED AT 14520 FRUITVALE AVENUE
WITHIN THE CITY OF SARATOGA, CALIFORNIA. MOTION PASSED. AYES: LO,
BERNALD, CAPPELLO, MILLER, KUMAR. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. ABSENT:
NONE.
3. GENERAL BUSINESS
3.1. Resolution Reaffirming the City's Commitment to a Diverse, Supportive, Inclusive
Community and to Protecting the Constitutional Rights of its Residents
Recommended Action:
Approve the resolution reaffirming the City's Commitment to a diverse, supportive,
inclusive community and to protecting the constitutional rights of its residents.
Crystal Bothelio, City Clerk/Asst. To the City Manager, presented the staff report.
Saratoga City Council Minutes — Page 4 of 7
Mayor Lo invited public comment on the item.
The following people requested to speak:
Rabbi Phillip Ohriner
Pastor Erik Swanson
No one else requested to speak.
RESOLUTION NO. 17-025
CAPPELLO/MILLER MOVED TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION REAFFIRMING
THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO A DIVERSE, SUPPORTIVE, INCLUSIVE
COMMUNITY AND TO PROTECTING THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF
ITS RESIDENTS. MOTION PASSED. AYES: LO, BERNALD, CAPPELLO, MILLER,
KUMAR. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
3.2. Website Conceptual Design
Recommended Action:
Provide input to staff.
Crystal Bothelio, City Clerk/Asst. To the City Manager, presented the staff report.
Mayor Lo invited public comment on the item.
No one requested to speak.
Council Member Miller recommended eliminating dropdown menus, have menu options on
the top of the homepage link users to a landing page to help them navigate the site, use the
bottom of the page for various links, eliminate the Contact Us from the graphic buttons,
eliminate social media icons on the top navigation bar, get rid of the sticky menu option,
make text larger, and make the green less overpowering.
Council Member Kumar agreed with Council Member Miller's suggestions and noted the
importance of a mobile responsive site, simple design, and recommended using a card -type
layout, like Pinterest, to simplify the design and help people navigate the site quickly. He
added he would like to see the site further simplified. He also commented the need to
control content. With the current website, there are a number of editors and content can
quickly grow out of control or become redundant or outdated. He suggested a pop up on the
homepage to encourage visitors to sign up to receive emails from the City.
Council Member Cappello expressed his desire for a simple, cleaner design. He encouraged
staff to use analytics to gauge what content users are looking for and make that content
prominent on the site. He also suggested that the design assume users have never interacted
with the City before, so that users can easily navigate the site even if they are unfamiliar
with the City.
Mayor Lo emphasized the importance of an effective search tool on the new site and
questioned whether the new site's search functionality would be sufficient to make up for
Saratoga City Council Minutes — Page 5 of 7
the loss of the dropdown menu. She recommended use of a color that is visually
comfortable.
The Council concurred on the recommendation to eliminate the dropdown menu.
Mayor Emily Lo invited student Kanav Tirumala on stage to introduce himself.
COUNCIL ASSIGNMENTS
Mayor Emily Lo
No report
Vice Mayor Mary -Lynne Bernald
Association of Bay Area Governments — during the April 20, 2017 meeting, the budget and work
plan were approved. Additionally, issues resulting from the merger with Metropolitan
Transportation Commission (MTC) were discussed. MTC is accepting comments from elected
officials on Plan Bay Area 2040 and there will be an open house on Plan Bay Area 2040 on May
22 in San Jose.
Hakone Foundation Board — the Board met on April 27, 2017. Several members were
reappointed and Ann Waltonsmith was re-elected as Board President. The Hakone filtration
system, budget, and Hakone wish list were also considered. Additionally, a proposal to allocate
$100,000 to the filtration system will be going before the County Board of Supervisor's Finance
and Government Operations Committee. Vice Mayor Bernald recommended a letter of support
for the proposal. Mayor Lo agreed to send a letter of support.
Public Art Committee — there were no Committee meetings, but Vice Mayor Bernald will be
attended the Los Altos Public Art Vision Workshop on May 22.
Saratoga Historical Foundation — the Honoring Saratogans event will be on May 21 and the
Foundation will be holding another estate sale.
West Valley Solid Waste Management Joint Powers Authority — the next meeting is May 4, 2017.
Additionally, there will be a composting seminar at the Joan Pisani Community Center on
August 23.
West Valley Mayors and Managers — Seth Miller from the League of California Cities attended
the April meeting and provided an update on several bills.
Vice Mayor Bernald shared that she attended the Community Emergency Response Team
graduation and Living Room Conversations.
Council Member Manny Cappello
Cities Association of Santa Clara County — the Cities Association is currently in the process of
recruiting a new Executive Director and interviews will be held on May 9, 2017, so Council
Member Cappello will not be able to attend Youth Commission interviews. There is a general
membership meeting on May 11.
West Valley Sanitation District — at the last meeting, the Board discussed transitioning the West
Valley Clean Water Program to the cities and will continue discussion at the next meeting.
Council Member Howard Miller
America in Bloom Committee — America in Bloom judges will be in Saratoga May 17 through
May 19. A community dinner will be held on May 19.
Saratoga City Council Minutes — Page 6 of 7
Saratoga Ministerial Association — during the last meeting, there was discussion of the Tree
Lighting and Celebration of Light. It appears that the group will be bringing forward a proposal
for a separate Celebration of Light event.
Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority Board of Directors — the Authority has been in
discussions with Milpitas regarding joining the Authority. The Authority is also moving forward
with plans to pay back member cities for seed funds and be debt free by the end of the calendar
year. By July, enrollment will be complete. Solar customers will be enrolled based on their true
up date. So far, only 1% of customers have opted out. The Authority is also hosting a legislative
workshop on May 12 and the City Council is invited.
Council Member Rishi Kumar
Saratoga Sister City Organization — during the last meeting, there were many questions
regarding Silicon Valley Clean Energy and the Quito Road construction project.
Santa Clara County Expressway Plan 2040 Policy Advisory Board — the next meeting is
currently scheduled for September. There may be funds that can be leveraged for Saratoga
purposes and Council Member Kumar will be discussing the possibility with Council Member
Miller and Public Works Director John Cherbone before the September meeting.
Santa Clara Valley Water District Commission — San Jose Water Company Letter 501 for a
proposed rate increase was rejected by the California Public Utilities Commission. Letter 506
was approved. There is a new application for another rate increase. Council Member Kumar
suggested residents oppose this and future rate increase proposals.
CITY COUNCIL ITEMS
Council Member Kumar requested discussion of procedures for announcements within the
Council Norms.
Council Member Miller supported the request and suggested a study session format for the topic.
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
None
ADJOURNMENT
CAPPELLO/BERNALD MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 8:56 P.M. MOTION
PASSED. AYES: LO, BERNALD, CAPPELLO, MILLER, KUMAR. NOES: NONE.
ABSTAIN: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
nutes respectfull submitted:
Ar
ry. ,. : othe io, City Clerk
City of Saratoga
Saratoga City Council Minutes — Page 7 of 7